Fast Talk with Boy Abunda: EJ Obiena, dismayado raw sa pagiging 4th place sa Olympics! (Full Ep 417)

GMA Network

Aired (September 4, 2024): Ibinahagi ng third best pole vaulter in the world at Filipino athlete na si EJ Obiena na malungkot at masakit para sa kanya na maging 4th place sa Paris 2024 Olympics. Alamin ang kanyang kwento sa video.

Transcript

00:00Welcome to Fast Talk with Boy Abumcar.

00:30To everyone watching on Facebook and YouTube, to everyone listening to DZEW, welcome to the program.

00:37Thank you very much. Take care. The weather is not good.

00:42Take good care of yourselves and there are a lot of people here in the studio.

00:46From different parts of the Philippines.

00:49There are more than 10,000 people here.

00:54Just kidding.

00:56Our guest this afternoon is one of the top poll voters in the world.

01:05Please welcome, Olympian EJ Obiena.

01:13Thank you very much, EJ.

01:17Thank you very much.

01:19How are you?

01:21I'm okay.

01:23You're not nervous, are you?

01:25Yes, a little. This is my first live show.

01:29Let's start here.

01:31Mom and Dad are both track and field athletes, right?

01:35You have to correct me if I'm wrong.

01:37Andrea, you started in track and field.

01:39Yes.

01:41First question, how did you end up in the poll vote?

01:44How did you fall in love and how did you love the poll vote?

01:47When I was 3 or 4 years old, I was already with my dad.

01:52At that time, he was still an active athlete.

01:55He was still competing in Southeast Asian Games.

01:57So, as a kid, you look up to your parents.

02:03I wanted to try it.

02:06It was like a playground for me.

02:08Actually, my parents have a video of me pulling grass beside the training area.

02:17So, that's where I grew up.

02:20I got used to the facilities, hanging out with the national athletes.

02:25So, from track and field, how did you end up in the poll vote?

02:29My dad was a poll vote specialist.

02:33So, your mom wasn't really in track and field?

02:36Yes, my mom was hurdles.

02:38So, I started as a hurdler.

02:40Then, I went to the poll vote because at that time, the level of competition was lower.

02:46Better chances to get a scholarship in college.

02:49So, in simple words, EJ, what is a poll vote?

02:55It's a guy jumping over a stick.

02:59It is?

03:01It is a guy using a stick, jumping over a stick.

03:03There are no women in this?

03:05There are.

03:06Do we have a sample?

03:08Yes.

03:10So, we can understand better.

03:14You know, EJ, during the Olympics, this was the only event I watched live.

03:20And since then, I became interested in the poll vote.

03:24It's not true. It's really beautiful.

03:26Okay, so the poll vote is…

03:29Of course, this is just a sample.

03:31Yes, sir. It's a shorter version.

03:33How long was it?

03:34It was 5 meters.

03:37I used 520.

03:39So, around 17 feet.

03:4117 feet.

03:43So, there is no rule that it should be like this?

03:46There is none.

03:48Yes, sir.

03:50It also has different flexibility.

03:52This is very soft.

03:54Don't let it fall.

03:56Yes, sir.

03:58It's made out of fiberglass, the one I'm using.

04:01But it has different materials.

04:04It has carbon fiber, it has a hybrid.

04:06So, that's it.

04:08But it has a different set of rules.

04:10So, the poll can't be extended.

04:12It can't be like two pieces.

04:14It's all one piece.

04:16Just one?

04:18Yes, sir.

04:20How hard is it to learn the poll vote?

04:22It depends on the level.

04:24I think it's easy.

04:26It's not easy, but you can learn it in one sitting.

04:28If you're physically able-bodied.

04:31If you're taking it seriously, as a career, as an athlete.

04:34How hard is the training?

04:36How hard is the life?

04:38Or how easy?

04:40I mean, conversely, the life of a poll voter.

04:43It's hard because the poll won't collapse.

04:46So, when we travel, it's always hard to check-in.

04:49But, kidding aside, the training side,

04:52it's a mix of running, gymnastics,

04:55and then weightlifting and sprinting.

04:57So, I think it's a very unique sport.

04:59And, yeah, it takes time.

05:01My coach, when I went to Italy,

05:04he said, you need to give me five years

05:06before you get to even feel comfortable

05:09with the new technique we're applying.

05:12Strength, speed, they say, is the technique.

05:15Yes, sir. And guts.

05:17A lot, right? A lot of guts.

05:19I just have a question.

05:21I said, I watched this during the Olympics.

05:23You're doing something.

05:25I was a bit annoyed with Latvia.

05:27Forgive me. Latvia, is that the way you pronounce it?

05:29Yes, sir.

05:31How do you say it, EJ?

05:33Like this?

05:35Yes, sir.

05:37Before Latvia ran,

05:39she was like this.

05:41Because there's a cone in front, right?

05:43Yes, sir.

05:45And when you remove it, you have 60 seconds before you run.

05:47I looked at the coach, like this.

05:49I looked at him.

05:51Did you notice? His long hair?

05:53Yes, sir.

05:55I just looked at him.

05:57What was he doing?

05:59Why were you looking at him?

06:01What did you want to see?

06:03He has a pre-bend.

06:05He has a curve, then a soft side, then a stiff side.

06:08So I was looking for that.

06:10If it's like that, I can see that the bend is just right in front.

06:13All right. So you check that.

06:15Yes, sir.

06:17It's like in tennis, right?

06:19Yes, sir. It's like a routine.

06:21Every time you jump, you have that.

06:23Yes, sir.

06:25Are you affected?

06:26There are track and field, there are runners.

06:28There are pole vaulters where the crowd is telling you not to make noise.

06:34Yes, sir.

06:36There are those.

06:38What's that? What's the story behind that?

06:40You use the crowd.

06:42At least for me, I prefer clapping.

06:44Like last year in the Asian Games, I asked the crowd to clap.

06:47You like that?

06:49Yeah, even now, talking about goosebumps,

06:51you have the whole stadium focusing on you.

06:54And I think that's a very unique experience.

06:56Do you like that?

06:58Yes, I love it. I love it.

07:00You don't get bothered by the noise?

07:03No, when you're really focused, you don't hear the crowd.

07:08It's very rare.

07:10When you're zoned in, it's quiet somehow.

07:12EJ, there are pole vaulters, right?

07:16They're getting ready, right?

07:18Yes, sir.

07:20How do you do that?

07:22Yes, sir.

07:23It's very fast.

07:25Yes, sir.

07:27But when it comes to the box, you call the box, right?

07:30Yes, sir.

07:32It doesn't jump. Why?

07:34It's mental.

07:36You asked earlier about the length of the pole.

07:38The longer the pole, the faster you have to be

07:41to cross the pole on the foam.

07:43If not, you'll go back to the ground.

07:45Yes, that's right.

07:47Wait a minute.

07:49So, if you're watching a young athlete,

07:50what are the requirements to be a good pole vaulter?

07:55Well-abled body.

07:57We come in different shapes.

07:59And you need to be fearless.

08:01Yes, fearless.

08:03What do you think, EJ?

08:05Sorry, I'm just excited to talk to you.

08:07What do you think when you're there?

08:09I'm going to get there.

08:11Are you talking to yourself?

08:13Yes, sir.

08:15I'm running what I need to do.

08:17If the coach gives me a technical adjustment,

08:18then I try to do that.

08:20If I need intrinsic motivation,

08:22I think about why I'm there.

08:24If I'm a little bit overwhelmed,

08:26I try to calm myself down.

08:28Do you pray?

08:30From time to time, sir.

08:32It depends on how.

08:34I don't pray for a miracle, I guess.

08:36I pray that he gives me strength.

08:38Do you get affected by the pole vaulter before and after you?

08:43Does that affect you?

08:45I try not to, but I'll be lying if I say no.

08:48Of course, sir.

08:50How do I put this?

08:53We match the games.

08:55So that's why I pass sometimes.

08:57It's a tactic to give myself time to rest.

09:00It's okay to pass?

09:02Yes, sir.

09:04For example, who's the top guy?

09:06Mondo.

09:08Mondo Duplantis, for example.

09:10I noticed in the Olympics,

09:12he had some hikes where he didn't jump.

09:14Is that okay?

09:16What's the disadvantage of that?

09:18And if you count in the end,

09:20for example, is there something like that?

09:22If it's higher, it's closer to your limit.

09:25The consistency should be there.

09:28So you get three attempts.

09:30So it's going to be harder for you to,

09:33I mean, you can't make mistakes.

09:37Why did you say that it's painful to be fourth?

09:40Because Duplantis, Kendricks,

09:43and then Karalis of Greece,

09:46and then you.

09:48Because you both jumped 5.9, right?

09:53Yes, sir.

09:55What happened there?

09:57I had a miss on 5.80.

09:59So what I did was I passed.

10:01I made 5.85 on my first attempt.

10:03So that attempt on 5.80,

10:05that cost me the bronze medal in Paris.

10:10How painful was that?

10:12It sucks because in my sport,

10:14only three are rewarded at the end of the competition.

10:16And that's the first, second, and third.

10:18And fourth, until the last place,

10:20you're a non-medalist.

10:22For me, as a competitor,

10:25I'm aiming for that podium and I want to win.

10:27The guys around you, are they nice?

10:30Yes, sir.

10:32Like Duplantis is number one in the world,

10:34Kendricks, Lightfoot.

10:36You already know them.

10:38Lightfoot, Karalis.

10:40Are they nice?

10:42Yes, sir. All of them are nice.

10:43Our staff, Donny,

10:45he said he'll donate all of his assets to Karalis.

10:48Oh, let's call him.

10:51Let's call him.

10:53Okay, so they're nice.

10:55You're good friends?

10:57Yes, sir. We're very good friends.

10:59You talk to each other.

11:01Yes, sir. From time to time.

11:03Especially during the qualification,

11:05during my last attempt,

11:07Mondo approached me afterwards.

11:09He said, you made us all worry.

11:10Like my stomach was tumbling

11:12and I was about to, my pants.

11:14Okay. But right now,

11:16the bad news is that you got injured.

11:18After, how do you call the place in Poland?

11:21Silesia.

11:23Silesia. Where, what was that?

11:25Was that a world event?

11:27It's a diamond league.

11:29But it didn't happen there.

11:31Like I've been having this issue since April.

11:33Your back is hurting?

11:35Yes, sir.

11:37So how long will you rest?

11:38Theoretically, just three weeks.

11:40Okay.

11:42So the bone should heal.

11:44If it's okay, then I can go back to training.

11:46Training in?

11:48Italy.

11:50For example, you're jumping, right?

11:52Yes, sir.

11:54After that, you go to your coach.

11:56I'm listening to you.

11:58What do you talk about?

12:00Italian? English?

12:02I know he's from Ukraine.

12:04Italian, sir. He's Ukrainian.

12:06Do you know Italian?

12:08When you get there, you have to jump.

12:10What's the answer?

12:12How do you do it?

12:14In Italian, I will understand.

12:16How do you do it?

12:18I don't know how to do this.

12:20Because I jumped well,

12:22but I didn't feel everything connected.

12:24But you have to have more focus.

12:26You have to think about the goal.

12:28How do you do it?

12:30How do you change?

12:32How do you change?

12:34Okay.

12:35Great!

12:37And because of that, we'll do fast talk.

12:40Wow! That's fast!

12:42Because of that, we'll do fast talk.

12:45Hold the pole.

12:47Even if it's not a pole vault.

12:49EJ, you have two minutes to do this.

12:51And of course, our time begins now.

12:53Sinkit, sungkit.

12:55Tatakbo, tatalon.

12:57Lilipad, lilingon.

12:59EJ, sataas. EJ, sababa.

13:01Guapong, chinoy. Koripot na chinoy.

13:03Guapong, chinoy.

13:05Pole vaulting, pole dancing.

13:07Pole vaulting.

13:09Dare, bear.

13:11Pogi or macho?

13:13Pogi.

13:15Time check or time out?

13:17Time check.

13:19Competitive or romantic?

13:21Competitive.

13:23Sexiest part of your body?

13:25Sorry, which one?

13:27Sexiest part of your body?

13:29My legs, I guess.

13:31When are you the sexiest?

13:33When I'm vaulting, I guess.

13:35Who's the sexiest woman for you?

13:37My girlfriend, Caroline.

13:39Caroline.

13:41If you were to use a bathroom, what would you use?

13:43Soap.

13:45Biggest showbiz crush?

13:48Pass, I don't know.

13:50Guilty or not guilty?

13:52Trained in a hangover?

13:54Guilty.

13:56Guilty or not guilty?

13:58Trained in a hangover?

14:00Not guilty.

14:02Guilty or not guilty?

14:03Guilty.

14:05Guilty or not guilty?

14:07Not guilty.

14:09Guilty or not guilty?

14:11Not guilty.

14:13Guilty or not guilty?

14:15Not guilty.

14:17One word.

14:19Describe yourself as an athlete.

14:21Hardworking.

14:23As a boyfriend?

14:25Caring.

14:27As a Filipino?

14:29Proud.

14:31Lights on or lights off?

14:33Anytime.

14:35Complete the sentence.

14:37Winning is?

14:39A bonus.

14:41EJ.

14:44Caroline, your girlfriend is arriving today.

14:47Tomorrow.

14:49Okay, from Germany.

14:51A lot of people are asking,

14:53is there a proposal?

14:55That's number one.

14:57Number two, how do you handle fame?

14:59How do you handle the attention?

15:01Are you comfortable with the attention,

15:03the attention you have today?

15:05How many times have you said,

15:07handsome and handsome today?

15:09The answers to the return of Fast Talk with Boy Abunda.

15:18We're back here at Fast Talk with Boy Abunda

15:21with EJ.

15:23EJ, how many times have you said handsome today?

15:26A lot.

15:28I'm not used to it.

15:30You're not used to it?

15:31How do you feel?

15:33I don't even know how to feel.

15:35Really?

15:37It's a bit odd.

15:39Your parents don't look,

15:41they're not ugly,

15:43why are you so ugly?

15:45It's weird for me, to be honest.

15:47No, but it's a different appeal.

15:49When we're watching you,

15:51aside from representing the country,

15:53a lot of people are asking you,

15:55now that you have a girlfriend,

15:57Caroline is flying in tomorrow,

15:59do you have a proposal?

16:01No, not yet.

16:03I think we're still young

16:05and we're figuring things out.

16:07That's right.

16:09But you're starting to talk seriously.

16:11I think we're very serious.

16:13It's a very serious relationship.

16:15She's really amazing

16:17and she makes me want to be a better person.

16:20EJ, we just want to thank you

16:23for making this country proud,

16:25for making all of us proud of Filipinos,

16:26for making this country alive.

16:28And this is a promise,

16:30at least it's a promise,

16:32we will be there in 2028,

16:34we will collect it,

16:36LA,

16:38to watch you win your gold

16:40because we believe

16:42that you can win gold.

16:44Wait a minute,

16:46Duplante Simondo is right,

16:48he's a bit scared and nervous.

16:50Thank you very much.

16:52And from Donnie,

16:54how are you with Caralis?

16:56How are you with our countrymen?

16:58Thank you very much for watching,

17:00especially those who lost the game.

17:02Again, I hope you guys enjoy the show.

17:05Yeah, I would have wanted

17:07to win a medal,

17:09but such is life in such a sport.

17:11So, thank you very much.

17:13But you're a champion,

17:15maybe this time, who knows how to dance?

17:17EJ, let's try.

17:19EJ doesn't know how to dance.

17:21DJ, DJ, teach us.

17:23This only happens sometimes.

17:24Okay.

17:27EJ.

17:51EJ, thank you very much.

17:52Thank you very much.

17:54Thank you very much.

17:56And God bless you.

17:58Lola, thank you very much.

18:00To your aunt, to your cousins,

18:02to your mom, to your dad,

18:04to your whole family.

18:06And Caraline, say hello.

18:08We'll do.

18:10Thank you very much.

18:12Naytay Kapuso, thank you very much

18:14for your continued support

18:16of your homes and hearts every day.

18:18Be kind, make your mom and dad proud,

18:20and say thank you.

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