MANILA, Philippines — No amount of moral victories, as much as he appreciates it, could ever make Filipino pole vault ace Ernest John 'EJ' Obiena feel less frustrated about his 2024 season which he ended prematurely due to his spine injury. "What's there to congratulate? The Milo team congratulated me when I met them and I said 'for what?' and I mean that with all my heart. I know I do believe that I could have won at least a [bronze] medal. I know the year has been very tough but life goes on," said Obiena at the renewal of his contract as Milo brand ambassador Monday at at Joy Nostalg Hotel and Suites. Out of the 10 tournaments he's joined, Obiena missed the podium five times including the Paris Olympics where he finished fourth, losing a medal due to an extra attempt. But this rough season just keeps Obiena hungry for that Olympic glory and more. He's here to win after all. "If me waking up in the middle of the night seeing Emmanouil [Karalis] jump doesn't tell you the story, I don't know how to tell you how hungry I am," said Obiena in a quick 1-on-1 interview with The Manila Times. "It's been a rough year. I'm gonna be back, I know. I wanna do everything I can. I don't join these big competitions just to participate man, I join to win. It's been a rough year." Obiena, the first Filipino to medal at the World Athletics Championships with a bronze in 2022 which he followed with a silver the next year, isn't looking at the Los Angeles Games in 2028 right away, though. The Asian record holder of 6.0m clearance is attacking it one by one starting with the World Championships next year "Athletics is not a 4-year thing. It's not just the Olympics, it's not just that. We have a lot of competitions. We have world rankings. We have World Championships. We have indoor and outdoor seasons," said the 3-time SEA Games champ and 1-time Asian Games titlist. "All of those things, if you really wanna cement yourself as one of the best, you need to do all of that, you need to compete. I'm a very competitive person. I don't like losing my world no. 2 spot to Sam [Kendricks]. "I mean he's a good friend but still I wanna be there or higher. I'm competitive. I aim at the next competition that would put me on that. I don't know how to answer your question but it keeps you going I guess." Obiena is enjoying his little homecoming time here in the Philippines but he'll be back in Paris before this month's end to attend some private matters. "I'm tired. I've been running everywhere but of course I'm very happy, I'm very honored to be welcomed in such a way. You know I don't necessarily feel that everything is well-deserved, at least on my end. I'm very thankful and blessed. Hopefully, I'll make something good of it."
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