EJ OBIENA believes a medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics is doable following his bronze finish in the recently-concluded World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Obiena said the world championship campaign further proves that he can hold his own against the best pole vaulters in the world, including Olympic and world champion Armand Duplantis and silver medalist Chris Nilsen.
“I think [the Paris Olympics is] a year and a half from now. That’s the plan and that’s definitely what I want to achieve,” said Obiena during an online press conference arranged by longtime supporter Jim Lafferty.
[See EJ Obiena wins historic bronze medal at worlds]
“Mondo [Duplantis] is definitely something that is a force to be respected and reckoned with. Chris is a competitor and everybody else in the field. If it’s going to be a medal, I can’t say. But definitely, I proved to myself what I’ve been saying that I can compete with these guys and I can win,” said Obiena.
Obiena cleared 5.94 meters at the worlds for a new Asian record - a huge improvement for Obiena as he was only 15th in the 2019 world championships and 11th in the Tokyo Olympics last year.
The bronze was also the first world championship medal for the Philippines since its inception in 1976.
“Hopefully, it will be the same case and even a better case in Paris,” said Obiena.
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