JUICO: JUST HAVE FUN

Philip Ella Juico has a reminder to his athletes competing in the Tokyo Olympics: Just have fun.

Juico, the president of the Philippine Athletics Track and

Field Association, yesterday said the pressure of winning the country’s first gold medal is there, but EJ Obiena and

Kristina Knott should savor their Olympic experience and enjoy rubbing elbows with the best athletes in the world.

Obiena punched a ticket to Tokyo after overcoming the Olympic qualifying mark of 5.80 meters at the Salto

Con L’asta tournament in Italy in 2019 while Knott booked her slot via universality place.

“Right now, they’re preparing themselves mentally and we don’t want unnecessary pressure. They already know we want them to win, but let’s not pressure them any further,” Juico, a former Philippine Sports Commission chair, said.

“My message to them is just have fun. Do your best, have fun and win — if possible.”

Knott is currently at the TransCosmos Stadium in Isahaya City, Nagasaki for a five-day training camp while Obiena is expected to arrive in the Japanese capital from Formia, Italy on 23 July.

My message to them is just have fun. Do your best, have fun and win — if possible.

Juico added that he wants the two athletes to be mentally prepared as they face tough competition at the Summer Games.

“Right now, their skills have already been honed and they are ready for their events. I just want them to be mentally prepared and I don’t want to bother them with this additional pressure of ‘hey, we’re expecting a gold medal from you.’ You don’t wanna do that,” Juico said.

Knott will be up against the likes of 2016 Rio Olympics 200m gold medalist Elaine Thompson of Jamaica, Rio silver medalist Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands, 2019 World Athletics Championships gold medalist Dina Asher-Smith of Great Britain, Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas as well as Allyson Felix, the most decorated woman in the American track and field history.

Obiena, meanwhile, will take on the likes of 2016 Rio Olympics champion Thiago Braz of Brazil, world pole vault record holder Armand Duplantis of Sweden, Rio Olympics bronze medalist Sam Kendricks of the United States and London Olympics champion Renaud Lavillenie of France.

Obiena will compete on 31 July while Knott will sprint on 2 August at the Olympic Stadium.