TOKYO—After a 13-hour flight from Italy, pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena has a week to shake off jet lag.
Obiena has already spent three days in Japan, since arriving Friday.
“We have to gradually allow EJ to adjust to the time zone,” said Obiena’s father, Emerson, at the Conrad Tokyo on Monday.
Obiena has made Italy, specifically at the world pole vault center in Formia, as his base at least for the last two years. Tokyo is seven hours ahead of Italy.
“We’re doing it one hour a day for EJ to adjust,” the elder Obiena said.
It’s crucial for Obiena to adjust his body clock, Obiena said, in time for the Tokyo Olympics men’s pole vault competitions at the Tokyo National Stadium on Saturday.
“His event starts at 8:45 a.m. [7:45 a.m. in Manila],” Obiena said.
Obiena and his team arrived in Tokyo last Friday and are still billeted at Conrad Tokyo. They are expected to move to the Olympic Village this week.