Obiena resumes ‘quest for immortality’ in Paris Olympics

Hundreds of kilometers from where the ongoing action is, EJ Obiena continued quietly polishing his craft, insulated from all possible distractions that could derail his bid in the Paris Olympics.

All that tranquility in far off Normandy shifts into chaos mode as the Filipino medal hope in men’s pole vault enters the Olympic village on Wednesday in the heart of the romantic French capital.

There, the mounting pressure could only reach feverish levels with just a few days before another defining moment for Obiena, the world’s No. 2 in his sport, arrives.

“I promise you all I will give not 99 percent, but all 100 percent,’’ said Obiena, whose quest for immortality on the grandest stage in sports got stymied after landing 11th in his first Olympic stab in Tokyo three years ago.

The Asian record holder of six meters will test the field during the qualification phase on Aug. 3 where the top vaulters in the world headlined by world champion Mondo Duplantis will be on full display before an expected packed 81,000-seat Stade de France.

It also won’t help that the stress and tension will go through the roof in the medal round on Aug. 6, the day when Obiena has been tipped by Sports Illustrated to stand on the podium after the smoke of the battles clear.

“I’ll just try to make sure that my chances are as high as possible,’’ said Obiena, who admitted having a choppy ride burdened by injuries throughout his preparation.

The US-based sports magazine published on its website that Obiena is projected to clinch a bronze medal behind Duplantis, the defending Olympic gold medalist, and Chris Nilsen of the United States.

Prior to setting up camp at Normandy Sports Centre, Obiena was unable to climb the medal podium in his last big tournament before this one, finishing fourth two weeks ago at the Meeting de Paris, a top-caliber Diamond League leg handily won by Duplantis.

Coached by Ukranian Vitaly Petrov, Obiena’s team includes physiotherapist Francesco Viscusi, osteopath Antonio Guglietta, nutritionist Carol Lafferty and sports psychologist Dr. Sheryll Casuga.

“I have undergone in the past months and weeks a variety of medical procedures, to hopefully give myself the best shot at the Olympic Games,’’ said Obiena.

The Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association and the Philippine Sports Commission have been all-out for Obiena even as his parents Emerson and Jeanette, both former athletes, will become instrumental in helping their son logistically during the Games.

Describing his entire preparation as bumpy, Obiena said: “I know these things happen. All athletes at the Olympic level deal with such adversities. I know not everything is in my control, but I am an optimist by nature.’’ INQ