E. J. Obiena and legendary pole vault coach Vitaly Petrov. –EJ Obiena Instagram
MANILA, Philippines – Philippine pole vault ace EJ Obiena thanked his longtime coach Vitaly Petrov for receiving a prestigious award from the International Olympic Committee on Tuesday.
Petrov was presented with the IOC Coaches Lifetime Achievement Award in Lausanne, Switzerland, for his “longstanding dedication to his respective sport and the athletes he coaches.” He was awarded the award along with British Swimming Head Coach Jane Figueiredo.
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Obiena is one of the many pole vaulters Petro has coached, including legends of the sport like Sergei Bubka.
Read: Legend maker Vitaly Petrov plans to plan EJ Obiena’s Olympic blueprint after season ends
“I’m not going to characterize Vitaly Petrov only as a great pole vault coach. No! This would be selling this guy short,” Obiena, a two-time Olympian, wrote about Petrov.
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“He’s a great people coach. He uses pole vaulting as a way to improve people’s lives. [including] my life. Yes, he made me a better vaulter, but he also made me a better person. ”
Petrov has been coaching Obiena since 2014.
The tandem of Obiena and Petrov has survived hardships and remained intact for years, even during the 2021 embezzlement scandal.
Read: Vitaly Petrov slams Patafa for abandoning “son” E.J. Obiena
It was certainly beneficial for Obiena to be with him, as he will be competing in back-to-back Olympics under Petrov in Tokyo in 2011 and Paris this year.
Obiena also wore socks with his signature “Petrov’s face” theme in honor of Petrov, who suffered a stroke on the night of the IOC awards ceremony, and wore socks with Petrov’s signature “Petrov’s face” theme after finishing fourth in the men’s pole vault final this year. It was also worn at the Olympics.
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“[He] It gave me a better chance in life. and this [award] It is the ultimate measure of greatness. ”
