ANG Probinsyano Party-list Rep Alfred delos Santos said Olympian pole vaulter EJ Obiena and gymnast Carlos Yulo are on the right trajectory leading up to the Paris Olympics about 12 months from now.
Obiena, soaring to over 6 meters at the outdoor tournament in Norway a few days ago, is part of that course. Yulo has earned silver in the Asian Championships all-around.
“EJ Obiena is building momentum, abilities, and confidence toward that point where he can directly challenge the reigning pole vault champion and world record holder Armand Duplantis at the Paris Olympics. In his mind, Obiena has to be able to visualize how it is possible to surpass Duplantis. The challenge is essentially a mental one. Slowly but surely, Obiena is well on his way,” said delos Santos.
He added that “the burden on us here in the Philippines and in Congress is to do what we can to make sure the support he needs is there when he needs it. I refer to ensuring the processes underlying the funding from the Philippine Sports Commission are there, that the mishaps of the past will not recur or come in another shape or form.”
It is also key that the next generation of pole vaulters rise from the ranks of those athletes competing in the leagues at the university, high school, and elementary school levels, so EJ Obiena will eventually have a team of pole vaulters in tow at the international tournaments.
This is also the reason why the solon awaits with excitement the return of the Palarong Pambansa in July, wherein the pole vault event is part of the athletics program at the secondary level.
He also said that another Olympian Yulo, who continues to expand his gymnastics repertoire, like Obiena, is also on a trajectory prioritizing early qualification to the Paris Olympics, podium finishes, and multiple Olympic golds and world championship titles.
Yulo was known for floor exercises but is now competitive in the vault and parallel bars. Clearly, Yulo and his coach are aiming for the all-around high rankings, as can be clearly seen with the gold and other medals he won in the most recent Asian Championships.
Fortunately for the Philippines, the Yulo family is filled with strong gymnasts, as Caloy’s siblings are progressively rising and honing their prowess. The Gymnastics Association of the Philippines also has a growing stable of other gymnasts besides the Yulo siblings.
“We credit the PATAFA and the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines for their devotion to their mission. We look forward to seeing their officials when the Philippine Sports Commission presents its budget to Congress in the coming weeks,” the solon concluded.
