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EJ Obiena is making a major change in his preparation by moving his training base from Formia, Italy to Athens, Greece, where he will train alongside a group of international pole vaulters in search of the competitive environment he believes will bring him back to his best. Dyann Castillejo
MANILA — EJ Obiena is making a major change in his preparation by moving his training base from Formia, Italy to Athens, Greece, where he will train alongside a group of international pole vaulters in search of the competitive environment he believes will bring him back to his best.
The Filipino pole vault ace explained the move, drawing on the example of Kenya’s top distance runners to illustrate why a training environment matters at the highest level.
“Talk to any top Kenyan distance runner, and they will tell you Olympic medals are won in training. Specifically, in training with other top Kenyan runners daily and pushing each other to greater heights,” Obiena said. “This is true for every sport and event, including pole vault.”
Obiena, who moved to Formia in 2014 to train under renowned Ukrainian coach Vitaly Petrov, credited that partnership with transforming his career.
While the collaboration produced some of the greatest achievements of his career, such as becoming Asia’s top pole vaulter, he acknowledged that circumstances in recent years had left him training largely alone — and that the absence of daily competition in practice had taken its toll.
“Whilst the guidance was outstanding, the competitive element of the training, which is very important, was missing. And this has led to difficult times,” he said.
“I believe I am still capable of competing at the highest level. But without the constant push of top-notch training partners, it would be very difficult.”
Along with the move, Obiena honored the legacy of his partnership with Petrov, calling the veteran coach one of the biggest pillars of his career.
“I am forever grateful for what Coach Vitaly and I have accomplished. He has opened doors for me and has made me reach heights I could never even imagine,” he said.
“I have the utmost respect and gratitude to one of the biggest pillars of my career. Thank you, Coach Vitaly.”
As he moves to Athens, Obiena is eager to embrace the challenge ahead, training daily with a roster of international vaulters — many of them friends, and equally fierce competitors.
“I am excited to train with these guys, many who are friends and fierce competitors. And, in doing so, I am putting myself in an environment that sharpens my skills,” he said. “Every day I will be pushed to bring my best.”
Under Petrov’s guidance, Obiena made history on June 10, 2023, becoming the first Asian pole vaulter to clear the six-meter mark at the Bergen Jump Challenge in Norway — a feat he matched later that year at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, where he won the silver medal. That performance also stands as the current Asian record.
At his peak, Obiena climbed to as high as world No. 2 in 2023. He also collected two World Championship medals under Petrov: a bronze from Oregon in 2022 and a silver from Budapest in 2023.
On the regional stage, Obiena has been untouchable, winning four consecutive SEA Games gold medals, three straight Asian Athletics Championships titles in 2019, 2023, and 2025, and the Asian Games gold in Hangzhou in 2023.
EJ first picked up the pole at just six years old, inspired by watching his father compete.
Obiena's next competition is in Dusseldorf Germany on June 14.
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