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NewsTranscript
00:00 After breaking records in Asian Games and qualifying in 2024 Olympics,
00:07 the ultimate target is the Filipino Paul Volter, EJ Obiana.
00:11 He's right in this one-on-one interview with Martin Javier.
00:15 Literally, Paul Volter, EJ Obiana, is on a high.
00:23 A few days after the Philippines' first break in Asian Games this year.
00:29 It's been surreal.
00:30 I'm still enjoying, you know, I'm still reaping the rewards of that competition.
00:33 I'm still enjoying, you know, seeing people congratulating me and thanking me for actually winning a medal.
00:40 I should actually thank them, you know.
00:42 They put me there, you know, they raised me and they literally paid their taxes too.
00:47 But his road to gold didn't go easy.
00:50 Aside from building up his body and joining different tournaments,
00:55 EJ also strengthened his must-win mindset to enter Asian Games.
01:00 He said the pressure was too much for him to deliver.
01:03 I remember a day before the meet, like people were just saying,
01:06 "This is the day we're going to get gold."
01:08 And of course, even officials are like announcing it in a way.
01:11 I'm like, "Guys, like, you guys have no idea how sports works."
01:16 I'm like, "Nothing is set in stone."
01:18 I'm feeling this pressure.
01:20 I'm expected to win.
01:22 There's a reason why they expect me to win.
01:24 You know, I've shown that I perform under pressure.
01:27 I am the favorite.
01:29 I went out there and said, "Okay, I have a job to do.
01:32 I'm going to go out there and embrace whatever I feel like."
01:36 But EJ not only won a gold medal, he also broke the Asian Games record.
01:42 He broke the previous record of 5.75 meters and even made his own mark after jumping 5.90 meters.
01:52 And he did that in front of thousands of Chinese sports fans in Hangzhou, China.
01:57 I was expecting the crowd to be against me.
02:00 I'm going to get booed by these 80,000 people.
02:03 And I was just like, "This is going to be rough."
02:06 But then it's just a total opposite, man.
02:08 Like 80,000 people clapping.
02:12 Yeah, clapping for you.
02:14 It was deafening.
02:16 And every time I talk about it, I get goosebumps
02:18 because I relieved that feeling that I had in that stadium.
02:23 Amazing.
02:24 I remember I was doing a lap and there's a lot of Filipino flags.
02:28 And all I can think about was the conflict that we have with China suddenly kind of disappeared
02:33 because, you know, the whole Chinese crowd's cheering for a Filipino.
02:37 And I think that that sensation kind of gave pride and, how do you say,
02:44 pride and acknowledgement about the country.
02:47 And it's such an amazing feeling.
02:49 It was a memory of a lifetime.
02:50 Along with his victory in the Asian Games,
02:53 Obiana also qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
02:58 But aside from Paris, EJ has another big dream.
03:02 I want to be the best I've ever lived and I want to be the greatest of all time.
03:06 If not in Asia, hopefully in the world.
03:09 I think it's a doable thing.
03:12 And all I need to do is trust my coach, focus on what I need to do,
03:16 and be able to, you know, kind of be obsessed in my craft.
03:21 EJ's message to Filipinos, continue to support Filipino athletes in the Asian Games.
03:27 Thank you so much for supporting me.
03:29 And I hope you guys continue to support the athletes competing in the Asian Games.
03:33 You guys make this all worthwhile.
03:35 For GMA Integrated News, I'm Martin Javier, for 24 Hours.
03:42 [GMA News theme]