There’s no need for pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena to worry about a discomfort that he is feeling during training.
While some feel the back spasms that he is experiencing while doing workouts is leading to an injury, his parents are confident that the 24-year old Obiena is in good hands.
His father Emerson clarified that EJ is doing alright during training and has no injuries to think about, and to get distracted on.
His coaches, led by world champion Vitaly Petrov, have done their best to prevent the young Obiena from getting a serious back problem.
“He is getting cramps on a certain muscle group on his back. And this slows down his training sometimes. It’s not an injury, just a discomfort,” said Emerson.
To keep this muscle group on his back from getting stressed during training, EJ has been advised to just do work outs on other areas in his back.
Obiena continues to train with Olympic gold medallist Thiago Braz da Silva in Fornia, Italy.
The 24-year-old Obiena has never stopped doing his daily physical routines and preparations to join the the Diamond League, which is an annual series of elite competitions across Europe.
The Diamond will have 15 one-day competitions and only a few will have pole vault events.
The 26-year-old Braz is the reigning Olympic Gold medalist and holds the Olympic record of 6.03 meters.
And Braz has provided Obiena a lot of inputs since he started training in Italy.
“He is like a big brother to EJ. He gives him a lot of advice,” said EJ’s father Emerson.
The elder Obiena said they have been training together in their facility, and outdoors, now that lockdown restrictions in Italy have been easing gradually.
“Magkakasama na sila na pag-training since nung bata pa sila,” said Obiena.
Braz has set the world record twice in 2016, and has been with EJ as he trains for international athletics meets which are set to reopen in Europe this August.
And EJ’s supporters are still waiting for word if he will be allowed to join in any leg of the Diamond League.
“He is waiting for an invitation to join,” said Obiena.
Obiena and his coaches will still have to find which events will put pole vault on their schedule.
After joining the Diamond League, he will prepare for the World Indoor Athletics meet, which will still be held in Nanjing, China.
The Nanjing meet will also be part of his preparation for the Tokyo Olympics.
