Obiena, tiwalang may Pinoy pa na pa-Olympics

ni Gerard Arce @Sports | July 7, 2023

Umaasa si Olympian pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena na madaragdagan pa ang mga Filipinong atleta na makakapasok sa 2024 Paris Olympic Games matapos maging kauna-unahang Pinoy na makapagkuwalipika sa quadrennial meet.

Matagumpay na nasungkit ni Obiena ang ikalawang sunod na pagpasok sa Summer Olympic Games nang maka-silver sa Bauhaus-Galan meet sa Sweden. “Paris is a good achievement, it wasn’t something that I was worried about per se, but of course, it was something that wasn’t just given,” wika ni Obiena sa panayam ng CNN Philippines Sports Desk na naniniwalang hindi imposibleng makapag-uwi ng medalya sa Olympics na tiyak matinding makakaharap sina World No.1 at Olympic champion Armand Duplantis ng Sweden, American Christopher Nilsen at kaibigang si Thiago Braz ng Brazil. “I don't think it's impossible. And hopefully, by the end of 2024, we'll have some hardware to bring back home,” dagdag ni Obiena na nagawang mapabilang sa 6-meter jump club sa Norway.

Nagawang magpadala ng Pilipinas ng 19 na Filipino na atleta na lumikha ng malaking karangalan matapos mag-uwi ng kauna-unahang gintong medalya mula kay Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo ng weightlifting, habang tig-dalawang silver mula kina Nesthy Petecio at Carlo Paalam, at isa pang bronze medal kay Eumir Felix Marcial, na galing lahat sa boxing. “When you qualify, it’s the sweetest thing. You’ll never forget your first, and it’s such an amazing experience. It’s something to take pride in, and if you’re gunning for it, go for it all the way,” paliwanag ng 6-foot-2 pole vaulter.

Inaasahan ng 3-time SEA Games gold medalist na makakasama niyang muli ang mga atletang nakapasok sa Tokyo Games tulad nina Carlos Yulo na sasabak sa World Artistic Gymnastics sa Antwerp para sa qualifying, gayundin sina Diaz, at Elreen Ando at Vanessa Sarno.