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EJ Obiena: Not thinking about 2024 Paris Olympics yet, but ‘I will be back’

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<p><br/>Olympic pole vaulter EJ Obiena on Wednesday night clarified his statement regarding his performance in Tokyo and his plans for the 2024 Paris Olympics.</p><p>&quot;It was just reported that I am &#x27;unsure&#x27; or &#x27;not keen&#x27; on competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics,&quot; said Obiena in his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EJObiena/posts/247025910571536">Facebook post</a>.</p><p>&quot;My comments were taken out of context and have created an uncertainty and distraction to our country’s amazing Olympic performance.&quot;</p><p>Obiena, who made it to the Tokyo Olympics men&#x27;s pole vault finals but finished 11th in the competition, he is not yet entertaining thoughts about the games in Paris.</p><p>He admitted being upset about his performance in Tokyo and wants to reflect on what happened first.</p><p>&quot;I did not come to Tokyo 2020 Olympics to experience the Olympics. I did not come to just &#x27;Make the final&#x27;. I came to win a medal for my country. This goal was not achieved,&quot; said Obiena.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/08/03/21/ej-obiena-olympics-socks-spongebob-squarepants">Tokyo Olympics: EJ Obiena gets much love from netizens in men&#x27;s final performance</a></li></ul><p>&quot;I hold myself to high standards. I am thus, understandably upset, disappointed, and reflecting so I can learn and improve myself.&quot;</p><p>Obiena said it was difficult to answer questions about Paris 2024 as his mind is still in the pole vault finals.</p><p>&quot;As I am still digesting what happened yesterday , I ask I be given time to adequately reflect and learn. Asking about 2024 right now is not my first, second or even 10th thought. I am not thinking about 2024 right now. I am thinking about yesterday and gleaning all the learnings I can so I come back better,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;My mistake was in trying to be accommodating to the press at a time that I am still distracted by what transpired in the pole vault final.&quot; </p><p>What he is sure though is that he will be back.</p><p>&quot;I still love the sport of pole vaulting. I still love representing my great country. I still love competing,&quot; he said. &quot;I still know I can win.&quot; </p><p>&quot;You can draw your own conclusions from this. I will be back, and I will be back to win. But I want some time to digest the events of the past week, and especially the past 24 hours.&quot;</p><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1718860" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><div><em>For breaking news and latest developments on the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, visit <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/tokyo-olympics">https://news.abs-cbn.com/tokyo-olympics</a> </em></div>

Olympic pole vaulter EJ Obiena on Wednesday night clarified his statement regarding his performance in Tokyo and his plans for the 2024 Paris Olympics.