EJ OBIENA , GYMNAST?
IMAGINE world-class pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena sweating and gritting his teeth while twisting and pushing his 6-foot-2 body in the high bar, horizontal bar and rings. Obviously he won’t have that agility and grace that world champion gymnast Carlos Yulo has mastered with his 4-foot-11 physique.
Also imagine Obiena wielding a racket and screeching to-and-fro, dishing out forehands and doublefisted backhands—even serving-andvolleying perhaps.
Obiena, the world No. 3 in his athletics event, will not spend three weeks in the country staring at the ocean sipping coconut juice with German girlfriend Caroline Joyeux on an island paradise somewhere down south. Nor will he and Joyeux party the night away—a no-no for these disciplined athletes.
“I need to stay active by playing other sports,” the 26-year-old Asian record holder told Businessmirror after his news conference at the Aristocrat Restaurant on Roxas Boulevard on Monday.
By staying active means not holding a pole for a while, but cross training in gymnastics and tennis.
“I will reach out to Caloy [Yulo] and ask him where I can train in high bar or horizontal bar and rings,” Obiena said. “I need to train in gymnastics for my balance and proper landing to avoid injuries.”
He explained that body movement and control while airborne are necessary in pole vaulting. World and Olympic champion Armand Duplantis is very good at that, he said.
“Look at the back flip Mondo (Armand) did after setting the world record,” Obiena said.
Tennis, Obiena stressed, will be great for his hand-eye coordination and doesn’t pose much of a risk.
“He enjoys it,” said Obiena’s confidante Jim Lafferty who joined the press conference online from his base in Dubai. “He’s also allowed to have some fun in life.”
“He loves tennis, so let him have
fun,” Lafferty said. “If it helps his mental game, that’s even better. It’s low risk of injury.”
With his height, Obiena can dunk and put his elbow inside the rim. But basketball’s not in his agenda.
“There’s a high risk for a knee injury in basketball,” he said.
After vacation, Obiena will return to Formia in Italy and focus on the indoor season in Europe which starts in November and ends in March.
“In indoor, there’s no rain and wind, an [expected] weather,” he said. “It’s easier to prepare but I like outdoor more because Olympics are outdoor, but I hope to manage it both.”
He’s bound to undergo a spartan-like 18-month training and competition program prepared by legendary Ukrainian pole vault coach Vitaly Petrov.
After the press conference, Obiena and Joyeux headed to the Senate where senators presented him Senate Resolution No. 18 congratulating and commending him for his accomplishments.