Fresh start fuels obiena’s resurgent 2026 season

CHANGING his environment and rediscovering his passion in pole vault powered EJ Obiena’s resurgent 2026 season. Following a down season in 2025, Obiena bounced back and seized 10 gold medals this year including his title defense at the Asian Games in Japan. Obiena aced his second Asiad gold with a meet record 5.91m clearance. “Probably, a different perspective, I’m a little bit happier, I enjoy what I do, I have a much brighter perspective on the sport that I love. Sometimes that matters,” said Obiena. A 2-time Olympian, Obiena said his coaching change and moving his base from Italy to Greece last June to train with his friend and world No. 2 Emmanouil Karalis really moved the needle for him. “Of course that influenced a lot of things, I mean, it’s hard to change a perspective without a change of venue, change of mindset,” said world No. 10 Obiena. aid world No. 10 Obiena. “How do you say this, it’s a natural course, so with that I’m h appy that I’m training with a guy who’s jolly ,who’s enjoyng, I’m learning from him as much as he’s learning from me, and with that, it’s a recipe for good things.” Now coached by Marcin Szczepanski, Obiena said it...