Ernest John Obiena is getting focused on the things that he needs to do to get in shape for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The 27-year-old Obiena is getting comfortable with his new set of poles, which he will finally be able to use in two more competitions before he plunges into action in the quadrennial meet.
“My fitness has been optimal. When I started the season, it was not the way I wanted it to. Now, I try to compartmentalize, and focus on the things that are important to me,” said Obiena in an interview with the Manila Standard.
Obiena began the season with four medals, which consisted of three golds and a bronze in the seven meets that he has joined.
He did this before he received a new set of sticks ordered for him by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association and its president Terry Capistrano after Obiena broke his during competition and training.
The group of eight sticks arrived Saturday night in Italy, with Obiena managing to jump using one after unboxing one package personally delivered by fellow pole vaulter Ed Lasquete.
The poles were transported by car the moment it landed in Europe and reached Obiena’s hands at the Formia, Italy training center, where the world no. 2 pole vaulter is currently based.
The new sticks will have their baptism of fire when Obiena competes next at a meet Bydgoszcz Poland on June 20, and on July 7 in the Paris leg of the 2024 Diamond League.
After the Paris leg, Obiena heads to the Metz’ training camp organized by the Philippine Olympic Committee for the Philippine delegation.
He first broke his pole during competition in the 2024 Ostrava Golden Spike —World Athletics Continental Tour Gold in Ostrava, Czech Republic, where he placed seventh.
The 27-year-old top Asian pole vaulter broke his second pole during practice, forcing him to borrow two poles as he settled for a bronze medal at the Diamond League—Oslo Bislett Games in Norway. Peter Atencio
Obiena again used borrowed sticks to land seventh place last week at the Diamond League’s Bauhaus-Galan leg in Stockholm, where he cleared 5.70 meters.
“I have not been able to use all of them and put them to the test,” added Obiena.
Obiena said he is still checking the condition of the poles that moment they arrived.