EJ Obiena shares how he was introduced to pole vaulting

E. Kristhoff Cagape

<p id="isPasted">EJ Obiena shared how he was introduced to pole vaulting.</p><p>In an interview with Boy Abunda, the Olympian relayed that both his parents were athletes, which exposed him to sports early on.</p><p>EJ&#39;s dad, Emerson Obiena, was part of the national team as a pole vaulter while his mom, Jeannette Uy Obiena, was a hurdler.&nbsp;</p><p id="isPasted">&quot;Nung bata po kasi ako as in mga 3 or 4 kasama na po ako ng dad ko. That time active pa po siya na athlete, still competing in Southeast Asian Games, so as a kid you look up to your parents. I wanna try it, gusto ko pong subukan, parang playground ko po &#39;yun,&quot; he recalled.</p><p><br/></p><p><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/C-lhIcJSs07/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=540&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fent-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A7043766.200000018%2C%22ls%22%3A7043675.700000018%2C%22le%22%3A7043680%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="925" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;"></iframe></p><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p><br/></p><p>The Olympian continued: &quot;May video po actually &#39;yung parents ko po na nagpupulot po ako ng damo kung saan &#39;yung training area. Dun po ako lumaki and I got used to the facilities, hanging out with the national athletes.&quot;</p><p>EJ recently joined the Paris Olympics and placed fourth in the finals of pole vaulting.</p><p>&quot;I am proud of what I was actually able to stitch together for this Olympics, with all the struggles that came with this year; but still it hurts to be this close to an Olympic Medal,&rdquo; he posted on social media following the Olympic results.</p><p>He remarked that he will get back up and work on achieving his goal.</p><p>&quot;I learned a long time ago to take one day at a time, and that&rsquo;s exactly what I am going to do. Thank you again for your support and standing by me. I love you all, and we all share a common love and pride for the Philippines&hellip;&#39;The good get up&#39; as they say. I have been knocked down. But I will get back up,&quot; he said.</p><p><br/></p><p><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/C-KaKPtoQMK/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=540&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fent-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A7062348.300000012%2C%22ls%22%3A7043675.700000018%2C%22le%22%3A7043680%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="907" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;"></iframe></p><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p><br/></p><p>Last August 28, EJ announced the premature close to his 2024 season due to a spine condition.</p><p>&quot;I intended to compete in three more competitions (ISTAF Berlin, Zurich Diamond League and Diamond League Final) before flying back to Manila. However, during the Silesia Diamond League this past weekend, the same back pain that has bothered me all season flared up. Due to the continual spasms, I couldn&rsquo;t finish my last few attempts,&quot; he revealed.</p><p><a href="https://push.abs-cbn.com/2024/8/29/ej-obiena-concludes-his-2024-season-due-to-spine-fracture-859" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>EJ Obiena concludes his 2024 season due to spine fracture</strong></a></p><p>The pole vaulter shared that he has a fractured L5 vertebra.</p><p>&quot;To avoid worsening the fracture, I shall prudently cancel my season, including the Philippines Pole Vault competition scheduled for September 20 (more information to follow on this). Hopefully, now that I&rsquo;ve identified the source of my back problems this year, with the required 4-weeks off to heal, I&rsquo;m hoping to return pain-free and ready for the 2025 indoor season!&quot; he relayed.</p>

<p id="isPasted">&quot;Nung bata po kasi ako as in mga 3 or 4 kasama na po ako ng dad ko. That time active pa po siya na athlete, still competing in Southeast Asian Games, so as a kid you look up to your parents. I wanna try it, gusto ko pong subukan, parang playground ko po &#39;yun,&quot; he recalled.<p><br/><p><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/C-lhIcJSs07/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=540&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fent-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A7043766.200000018%2C%22ls%22%3A7043675.700000018%2C%22le%22%3A7043680%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="925" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p><br/><p>The Olympian continued: &quot;May video po actually &#39;yung parents ko po na nagpupulot po ako ng damo kung saan &#39;yung training area. Dun po ako lumaki and I got used to the facilities, hanging out with the national athletes.&quot;<p>EJ recently joined the Paris Olympics and placed fourth in the finals of pole vaulting.<p>&quot;I am proud of what I was actually able to stitch together for this Olympics, with all the struggles that came with this year; but still it hurts to be this close to an Olympic Medal,&rdquo; he posted on social media following the Olympic results.<p>He remarked that he will get back up and work on achieving his goal.<p>&quot;I learned a long time ago to take one day at a time, and that&rsquo;s exactly what I am going to do. Thank you again for your support and standing by me. I love you all, and we all share a common love and pride for the Philippines&hellip;&#39;The good get up&#39; as they say. I have been knocked down. But I will get back up,&quot; he said.<p><br/><p><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/C-KaKPtoQMK/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=540&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fent-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A7062348.300000012%2C%22ls%22%3A7043675.700000018%2C%22le%22%3A7043680%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="907" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p><br/><p>Last August 28, EJ announced the premature close to his 2024 season due to a spine condition.<p>&quot;I intended to compete in three more competitions (ISTAF Berlin, Zurich Diamond League and Diamond League Final) before flying back to Manila. However, during the Silesia Diamond League this past weekend, the same back pain that has bothered me all season flared up. Due to the continual spasms, I couldn&rsquo;t finish my last few attempts,&quot; he revealed.<p><a href="https://push.abs-cbn.com/2024/8/29/ej-obiena-concludes-his-2024-season-due-to-spine-fracture-859" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>EJ Obiena concludes his 2024 season due to spine fracture</strong></a><p>The pole vaulter shared that he has a fractured L5 vertebra.<p>&quot;To avoid worsening the fracture, I shall prudently cancel my season, including the Philippines Pole Vault competition scheduled for September 20 (more information to follow on this). Hopefully, now that I&rsquo;ve identified the source of my back problems this year, with the required 4-weeks off to heal, I&rsquo;m hoping to return pain-free and ready for the 2025 indoor season!&quot; he relayed.

<p id="isPasted">EJ Obiena shared how he was introduced to pole vaulting.<p>In an interview with Boy Abunda, the Olympian relayed that both his parents were athletes, which exposed him to sports early on.<p>EJ&#39;s dad, Emerson Obiena, was part of the national team as a pole vaulter while his mom, Jeannette Uy Obiena, was a hurdler.&nbsp;

<p>EJ Obiena says that both of his parents were athletes which exposed him to sports early on. His dad was a pole vaulter while his mom was a hurdler. </p>

EJ Obiena says that both of his parents were athletes which exposed him to sports early on. His dad was a pole vaulter while his mom was a hurdler.

EJ Obiena shares how he was introduced to pole vaulting | PUSH.COM.PH