Open letter to EJ

EJ Obiena narrowly missed claiming a podium spot in pole vault at the Paris Olympics yesterday, finishing fourth in the 12-man final. Third-placer Emmanouil Karalis of Greece had the same elevation of 5.90m as Obiena but took the bronze by virtue of five clear jumps on first attempts compared to the Filipino’s four. It was that close.

Here’s an open letter to EJ:

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Dear EJ,

Firstly, congratulations. There is nothing to be sorry about, and yes, there is reason to celebrate. You didn’t win a medal in Paris, but you won the hearts of every Filipino all over the world with your courage, effort, and dedication to bring glory to our country.

In Paris, you became the first and only Asian to qualify for two Olympic pole vault finals and the first Asian ever to finish in the top four. In the qualifying round, you did something amazing. You failed to clear 5.60m twice, but rather than make a third and final attempt at that height, you chose to jump 5.70m with just one attempt, aware that a miss would mean outright elimination. The strategic move gave you about 15 minutes to regroup because if you had chosen to make a third try at 5.60m, there would’ve been little time to restart. The gamble paid off, and you cleared 5.70m. Then, you took only one try to jump 5.75m and soar your way to the final. You stared down an early exit and didn’t flinch. The act of brinkmanship belied your self-confidence and was impressive.

Now that your Paris campaign is over, there is no immediate pressure for you to decide on what’s next. Take your time, visit family and loved ones, and enjoy your break. Forget about pole vault for a few weeks and just think of making up for all that lost time training without family near you.

Once you’ve cleared your mind of the past, it’ll be time to think of the future. Will you continue to vault and train like you did the past several years in Formia? If you decide to resume vaulting, what will be your goals? Will you try to qualify for the LA Olympics in 2028? By then, you’ll be 32. That’s not old. At the 2004 Olympics, American Tim Mack was a few weeks short of 32 when he jumped 5.95m to win the gold medal. They say Filipinos mature and develop physically later than most other races. If that’s true, you’ll still be at your peak when LA comes around. If you decide to go for a third Olympics, remember that it took Hidilyn Diaz two Olympics before bagging a silver in her third stint and a gold in her fourth. The third time could be your charm.

Before deciding, consult your loved ones, family, coach Vitaly (Petrov), PATAFA president Terry (Capistrano), Jim (Lafferty), and others whom you confide in. What do they think? What are your options? Once you’ve laid out the possibilities, then you decide what to do. Whatever your decision, never forget that you’ve already done wonders for our country.

Your story of inspiration will be told and retold for generations to come as a source of national pride. No Asian has achieved what you’ve accomplished in pole vault. You will be forever revered as a Filipino sports legend. Whatever you decide for your future, know that our countrymen will be behind you, supporting you, and praying for your success.