To say that EJ Obiena has stolen the hearts of the Filipino people following his stint in the 2024 Paris Olympics would be an understatement. The pole vaulter, though only managing to clinch 4th place in the men’s pole vault final has risen to massive popularity not just for his athletic skill but also for his tenacity, humility, and ability to inspire others. Despite all the obstacles he faced in recent years, EJ has possessed that spirit to never give up on his dream to be the world’s best pole vaulter—and he’s finally got the entire country rooting for his success.
We had the privilege of catching up with EJ after the Paris Games to get the lowdown on his Olympics experience, his reaction to the Hero’s Welcome in Manila, and what comes next for him.
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Hi EJ! First of all, congratulations on your Paris Games journey. Any reflections regarding the whole experience?
EJ: For the sake of reflecting on it, I guess I think it was not the Olympics that I wanted to happen, and it’s definitely not the year that I wanted it to be. But I did everything that I could. I can sleep at night and say that with the peace of mind knowing that I’ve not left any stone unturned and I’ve done everything that I could. And this sport, as I said, it’s beautiful, but at the same time brutal. There are only three podium places in the sport, mostly, at least. And fourth place probably sucks the most, at least for me, especially missing it. Not because I couldn’t vault higher, but I missed it because of an attempt. But that’s the rule of the game. That’s what makes it sweet when you win. And that’s also what makes it brutal when you lose.
That’s true. And perhaps not a lot of people are aware that being an athlete also means having mental fortitude and not just physical strength. You have been very candid in interviews about your mental state. What do you want more people to know about the mental health of athletes like you?
Well we’re still humans. We have our ups and downs and we deal with emotion. And I think, of course, as an athlete, also you need to hold your stuff to a higher standard, in a higher accord. And I think you need to learn how to deal with your emotions. You need to learn how to handle it. You need to know how to manage it if you want to perform. So that in itself, you should be able to handle your emotions a little bit better. And I think for me, my best way to cope with it is really just to be candid and say what I feel and just be true to what I do. And I think that’s the best way to do it. I think that would help you be transparent, be more, for the lack of a better term, flexible, because you’re not trying to mask something. You’re just basically being who you are. And I think there’s a lot of outside expectations and all these things and fully recognizing that.
Good athletes, they get to manage their emotions. And I think great athletes learn how to use those negative emotions to a better state. It’s like a lot of people would say they don’t like pressure, so they try to not think about it. No, the good athletes think about pressure in a way that it’s a good thing and they tend to thrive. The greatest basketball players don’t shy away from taking the last shot; they actually want to take the last shot at the biggest stage. It’s a buzzer-beater. They want to take that.
When it comes to mental health […] Burnout is real. It happens. I’ve experienced it. But the world doesn’t stop. […] And yeah, I’m not very knowledgeable [enough] to answer that question. It’s actually a good question, but I really don’t know how to answer it.
That’s understandable. I think mental health will always be a constant conversation. There’s never going to be a real answer for these things.
For sure. […] I think people individually absorb, realize, adapt, and analyze the things that happen to them and react all very individually. That’s why I think we’re very unique and it’s tough to have a single fix. So you’re definitely right about saying that mental health will be a continuous conversation.
Well, now we’re done reflecting on the Olympics, let’s look at the now. What continues to motivate you to keep moving forward and maintain this momentum of competing and training?
I don’t think I’m maintaining anything, to be honest. My motivation was until Paris. That was the goal of everything I’ve been doing ’til the day or the hour before it. After that, I needed to think what would be the thing that would make me want to wake up. You know it, when you’re motivated into [doing] something, you’re not forced to do it. You yourself are driven to do everything that you can. You’re not going to be, “Oh, I’m bummed out. I miss a vacation.” No, you’re not going to be bummed out because this is what you want to do. That’s what I’m trying to look for. And that’s what makes me tick. Those are the things that make me do what I do. And in some shape or form, pole vaulting is still part of it. Therefore, that’s why I’m here. That’s why I’m still continuing. That’s why I’m still driving. That’s why I’m still competing at the highest level. Because my goal… well, I don’t want to share it because then people would know what drives me. But it’s one of those things that you need to look deep inside and find that clear thing that you want to achieve.
The moment you know that, [then you’ll need to think] “How am I going to get there? What are the things that are needed?” And then do it. If you truly believe in what you’re doing, you don’t need motivation. Your entire being is attracted to that thing. You’re going to be there. You’re going to do everything that you can to be there. At least that’s for me.
So it’s like, just at this point in time, you’re taking things day by day, just step by step, just focusing on this day and then the next day.
Yeah, I’m taking it day by day, but I’ve set a couple of goals in my head. To put one, I want to be the best athlete my coach has ever trained. It’s a big shoe to fill in. My coach is one of the best who has ever coached the event. To be the best, that means I need to jump quite a few more centimeters higher than my best. That motivates me. That wants me to wake up, put in the work, prepare, and focus myself into the task that I need to do.
Let’s talk about the support that you’ve been getting since the Olympics. I know you’re probably thinking that it’s pretty overwhelming, the support that people have been throwing your way. I know that it’s probably every athlete’s dream to be so supported by their nation, but what are your thoughts on being at the receiving end of it? Did you ever expect it to reach this level?
I don’t think I deserved it. The attention I’ve got after Olympics, I don’t think I necessarily deserve it. I understand that there are more things about sports and there’s this and that, but I don’t think I necessarily needed to be in a hero’s welcome where we have our medalists. I don’t want to take away the spotlight on these people who have achieved greatness. But then again, there are certain things in life that you can’t really make a decision out of. I was there in the Philippines for like 20-ish hours just because [of the hero’s welcome]. On a positive note, I’m very thankful for sure. I’ve said this multiple times. I’m very blessed to be in a position where I’m at because I think not a lot of people would have experienced what I’ve been experiencing and not a lot of people would be given the same platform as I had. I don’t really know what I did to deserve that love. All I can do is really try to use that platform that they’ve given me to the best of my ability and be responsible with it and be, for lack of a better term, myself, I guess, because that’s what put me in that [position] and hopefully [I’ll] be able to do the right things and make all those people that gave me their time [and] their support somewhat proud.
I also want to briefly mention that you are the sole PUMA ambassador from Southeast Asia. How does PUMA align with your personal values and goals?
I’ve been with different brands. PUMA is different because they don’t see me as a number. They don’t treat me like just another athlete. They treat me as a human being. And with that, I know that I am aligned with a company that has values that I would say I would want to be incorporated with.
I’ve spoken to at least the marketing head in Monaco last year. I said, “Hey, I have a project I want to do. I want to build facilities. I don’t have the money to build the facilities, but I do think I have the platform to raise awareness into it. I’m thinking, if I could use my platform to raise enough funds, hopefully I’ll be able to donate [these facilities].” […] Basically, we sat there and [exchanged] ideas, and he very proactively wanted to be part of it. That in itself is… this is not their responsibility. This is not like a PR thing. This is totally out of their expense. This is totally the goodwill of that guy or the goodwill of the company or the way the company is run. With that, I was able to raise funds [which] I’m going to donate it later part of the year. I just need to know where exactly. The big chunk of that came from PUMA’s help.
And what can I say? I’m very blessed to be working with such a brand. That’s even without all the work that they’ve done for my shoe and them making sure I get the best doctors as well. It’s a totally different dynamic for me. I love PUMA. I didn’t even think that I would be with PUMA. But when a good friend of mine told me how they were treated by the brand, I became curious about it. And then I got to know the ex-CEO, Mr. Gulden, and talked to him about the way the company is and the way they approach things. It’s totally different. It’s just not the norm. They treat people like people. I think that in itself is of great value.
So is it safe to say that there are more collaborations coming with PUMA in the future?
I would love to. Of course, it’s not a secret that I like PUMA, and I’ve been with them for quite some time, and I think our partnership has been very fruitful. But we’ll see. Hopefully. We’ll see.
Just one last question. With the amazing accomplishments of your fellow Olympians, I know there are a lot of kids now who are even more motivated to keep working hard and achieve success on their own terms. So can you share advice or a message to these young athletes to pursue their dreams despite the challenges that they may face?
Have fun. I think that’s one of the biggest things. All these challenges are going to come. If you’re already dreading yourself and you’re second guessing if this is something that you want to do, or this is something that you don’t exactly enjoy, then somewhere along the line, it’s going to get too tough. Find, enjoy, explore. If it’s about sports, or if something else, find that thing that motivates you and that drives you. Each to their own. And with that, understand that it’s not going to be every day you love what you do. But mostly it should be. I’m blessed to be doing what I do. And if you feel that, then I think you’re in the right place. So enjoy it. Have fun, really, truly.
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