Filipino pole vault star EJ Obiena feels good and in great shape as he prepares in the men’s pole vault event of the Paris Olympics athletics meet at the Stade de France in Paris.
The 28-year-old Obiena, who is set to enter the Athletes Village on Wednesday, as stayed focused on his moves over the last two month.
A new set of pole made him confident for what lies ahead.
“I’m physically in good shape, and I feel that I am capable of winning,” said Obiena, the world no. 2 ranked pole vaulter.
After breaking his poles last month, and getting a new set of eight afterwards, Obiena, with his coach Vitaly Petrov, got to test the stability of his equipment when he joined four meets before the Olympiad.
The last time he competed using his new set of poles was against rivals who are also getting ready for the Paris Olympics.
Obiena missed a podium finish in the Meeting de Paris in France, when he settled for fourth when he cleared 5.75 meters on in his final tournament before the Olympics.
He was tied with Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis in French leg of the Diamond League leg series.
Reigning Olympic champion and world record holder Armand Duplantis of Sweden dominated, and took his 10th gold medal for the season when he soared to 6.00 meters.
To win a podium finish, Obiena will have to deal with Duplantis
Duplantis, a Swedish-American pole vault champion known by his nickname “Mondo,” currently holds the world record in the sport with 6.23 meters.
And Obiena’spersonal best of 6 meters stands as the Asian record.
“It’s easier to be an underdog. You aren’t expected to do much, but there’s always a fight in you. It’s easier to upset than to be expected,’’ said Obiena.
Aside from Dupantis, Obiena’s other challengers are no. 3 Christopher Nilsen of the United States, and world No. 4 Sam Kendricks, also of the United States.
Australia’s Kurtis Marschall (no. 5) is also in the mix, along with another American, KC Lightfoot.
