Filipino pole vaulter, EJ Obiena’s rise in pole vaulting was shaped in Formia, Italy, a training ground where discipline, repetition, and elite coaching helped turn him into Asia’s premier vaulter and a consistent global medal contender.
Now, Obiena has officially shifted his training base to Athens, Greece, where he will join a group of international pole vaulters in a more competitive daily environment. The move marks a significant adjustment for the world-class athlete, who is seeking the kind of training atmosphere that mirrors the intensity of major championships.
Obiena, who first relocated to Formia in 2014 under the guidance of renowned Ukrainian coach Vitaly Petrov.
Over time, the setup that once propelled him forward began to change, with Obiena often training without consistent high-level group competition—something he believes has impacted the sharpness required at the very top.
To explain his decision, he pointed to a well-known model of excellence in endurance sports.
“Talk to any top Kenyan distance runner, and they will tell you Olympic medals are won in training. Specifically, in training with other top Kenyan runners daily and pushing each other to greater heights,” Obiena said.
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Pole vaulter EJ Obiena has moved training camp from Formia, Italy to Athens, Greece & will now work with Polish coach Marcin Szczepanski in his quest for a 3rd Olympic jump in LA in 2028! Heres a video of EJ jumping 5.90 in Athens pic.twitter.com/4azUXSssiM
— Quinito Henson (@TheDeanQuinito) June 9, 2026
Despite the shift, Obiena was careful to acknowledge the foundation built during his long partnership with Petrov—one that produced some of the most historic moments in Philippine athletics.
“I am forever grateful for what Coach Vitaly and I have accomplished. He has opened doors for me and has made me reach heights I could never even imagine. I have the utmost respect and gratitude to one of the biggest pillars of my career. Thank you, Coach Vitaly,” he said.
Under Petrov’s guidance, Obiena broke the Asian pole vault barrier by clearing six meters at the Bergen Jump Challenge in 2023, a milestone he later repeated en route to a silver medal at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest. That same period also saw him reach world No. 2 in the rankings and secure multiple major international medals, including a bronze in Oregon in 2022.
On the continental stage, he has remained dominant, collecting four consecutive SEA Games gold medals, three straight Asian Athletics Championships titles, and the Asian Games gold in Hangzhou.
Now training alongside a new group of international competitors in Athens, Obiena views the change not as a reset, but as a refinement of an already elite career.
“I am excited to train with these guys, many who are friends and fierce competitors. And, in doing so, I am putting myself in an environment that sharpens my skills. Every day I will be pushed to bring my best,” the olympian pole vaulter said.
His next test comes quickly, with Obiena scheduled to compete in Dusseldorf, Germany on June 14, where he will get an early indication of how his new training setup translates under competition pressure.
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