00:00 Despite collecting his second medal in the World Championships,
00:04 the Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena shared the great pain he went through after being infected with COVID.
00:12 He was on vacation in Ensayo for a few weeks to have a chance to show his performance in the biggest athletics meet in the world.
00:22 Here is the full story from Kei Asuncion.
00:26 The Asia's top pole vaulter EJ Obiena admitted that his performance in the World Athletics Championships this weekend in Budapest, Hungary, was not smooth.
00:37 In the first chance, the Filipino got a silver medal in the biggest athletics tournament in the world after the 6-meter mark set by the 28-year-old Italy-based pole vaulter.
00:50 This is the second time Obiena has broken the record he set in the Burhan Jump Challenge in Norway.
00:58 Obiena also tried to break the Asian record and his season best after his 6.05 and 6.10 meters attempt, but he was unable to overcome it.
01:08 The defending Olympic champion, Armand Doplantis of Sweden, is still the reigning king of pole vault events with a 6.10 meters record.
01:16 While Curtis Marshall of Australia and Christopher Nielsen of the Bronze with a 5.95 meters mark were the ones who were matched.
01:24 One day after his World Athletics Championships campaign, Obiena released his video recorded statement on his social media account, where he was quarantined due to the COVID-19.
01:37 It's been a little bit mentally taxing right now, knowing that I might just have the best season of my career.
01:49 But come the major championship, unfortunately I got sick and got COVID.
01:56 It's tough.
01:59 So we're moving forward.
02:02 We're going to do what we can to be ready come the 23rd and hopefully 26th.
02:11 This happened two weeks before his campaign, in what is considered the highlight of his upcoming tournaments this year.
02:19 This video would not come out if I don't podium.
02:22 Right now, it's a question of physically I'll be ready.
02:28 It's a question of physically I'll be, am I able to compete with one of the best and the best of the world?
02:34 Just praying to God that there's a reason why this is happening.
02:39 After overcoming the COVID-19 and World Championships challenge,
02:44 Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Bambo-Turentino will be the champion of Obiena's first Olympic medal next year.
02:52 He was the one who created the Tondo Born Trackster, his Olympic medal dream, and his 11th place finish in the Tokyo Olympics.
03:00 He also considered Obiena's focus and mental approach in his career.
03:05 In addition, he has one more year to continue improving his record and he doesn't have a problem qualifying for the Olympics after he became the first Filipino qualifier in the next Summer Games.
03:17 At present, Obiena has 11 medals from 20 indoor and outdoor tournaments he held this season.
03:24 The 19th Asian Games in China will start from September 30 to October 8, following the big international event hosted by Obiena's World No. 3.
03:35 KS on Sean, Petting Vs. Sport.
