Obiena says no to vaccine

Coming off a record-breaking performance in Germany, pole vaulter EJ Obiena is looking to skip the vaccinations as he is uncertain how it will affect his performance in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.

Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Philip Ella Juico said Obiena skipping inoculation is part of their training program for the upcoming Summer Games starting 23 July.

Obiena recently broke the Philippine outdoor pole vault record in the Jump and Fly tournament in Mossingen, Germany after doing 5.85 meters to win the gold medal.

“It seems most likely that EJ will not be vaccinated. He would rather forgo the vaccine after the Olympics. So it’s not an issue. It’s part of the training plan not to have a vaccine first because of the impact it may have on their training.”

“Because of what they have gathered from other pole vaulters who had their vaccines and formal 10-day quarantine, they felt differently. If you take 10 days off now before the Olympics, that’s it. You’re dead meat.”

In a previous Daily Tribune report, Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion admitted that Carlos Yulo will compete in the Olympics without getting vaccinated to avoid the side effects that could derail his preparation.