By REY LACHICA

Pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena is a man on a mission in the coming Paris Olympics, and everyone knows the reason why he has set a lofty goal.

The Olympics is the grandest sporting stage on Earth where one can expect the unexpected, so naturally, Obiena, ranked No. 2 in the world, is looking for a positive result this time, one that would make everybody happy and proud at the end of the more than two weeks of adventure in the City of Light.

And one that would spark another massive celebration across the nation just like when weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo produced the country’s first Olympic gold in Tokyo three years ago.

After a disappointing showing in the Covid-delayed 2020 Tokyo Games, Obiena, 28, did almost everything – training almost non-stop plus competing in major tournaments one after another – in the hopes of finally reaching his best form so he can destroy the myth of Swedish-American Armand "Mondo" Duplantis.

The lovely Paris – with all its sights and sounds and rich cultural heritage – is perhaps the perfect venue for his redemption bid.

Coming into the Games, Obiena was beaten again by Duplantis in the Meeting de Paris Wanda Diamond League as he settled for a share of fourth place on Sunday, July 7, at the Estadio Charletey in France.

But before that, Obiena scored back-to-back victories in Poland including registering a season-best 5.97-meter at the 6th Irena Szewinska Memorial.

In both events, Duplantis did not compete, though.

Little wonder, the desire of Obiena to beat Duplantis grows each day that he had already put a target on the back of the reigning World and Olympic champion.

They are set to clash, along with other hopefuls, early next month in what could go down as one of the most anticipated showdowns in athletics.

If he beats Duplantis, it means everything for the pride of Tondo who seems to be at peace now after getting embroiled in a bitter word war with the former big boss of the athletics association a couple of years back.

Make no mistake about it, Obiena still is the clear underdog after Duplantis fired a stern warning to all his rivals in a Diamond League event in Xiamen, China last April after breaking his own world record with a 6.24-meter effort.

Though his personal best is only 6.00 meters, Obiena remains unfazed.

“I feel that I’m better mentally and physically since I became older. The test of time has made me stronger,’’ said Obiena, who has a winning pedigree being the son of former pole vault idol Emerson and trackster Jeanette Obiena.

And while the difference of a 0.24 of a meter (approximately 9.5 inches) looks too much of a hurdle in pole vault, Obiena, the reigning Asian Games champion, is still convinced that he has what it takes to become a champion.

“It’s easier to be an underdog. You aren’t expected to do much, but there’s always a fight in you. It’s easier to (score an) upset than to be expected,’’ said Obiena, who failed to make the final round during the Tokyo edition.

If Obiena can’t clear the 6.24-meter barrier or produce a jump better than his personal best, one jokingly said that his only chance to win the gold is if his 24-year-old rival would wake up on the wrong side of the bed on the day of competition – tentatively set Aug. 3.

But who knows? In the Olympics, spectacular and unbelievable feats of athleticism can happen anytime that’s why there were several underdogs who toppled the powerhouses in the past.

The one rare occasion that Obiena emerged victorious over Duplantis was during the Brussels Diamond League in late 2022.

It was all Duplantis' show after that, winning every important event with nary a trouble and almost in succession.

Rewards, of course, will come from left and right if Obierna wins the gold – just like what happened when he captured the gold medal in last year’s Asian Games.  The bulk of his financial incentives came from the Fil-Chinese community.

As an added motivation, there will be a reward worth $50,000 (almost ₱3 million) to any gold medal winner in 48 track and field events – a first in the colorful history of the Olympics.

Another source of encouragement for Obiena to go all the way this time is his bid to become the third Filipino athlete after high jumper Simeon Toribio (bronze, 1932 Games) and hurdler Miguel White (bronze, 1936 Berlin Games) to win a medal.

Duplantis, however, is just one of the obstacles that Obiena needs to hurdle in his bid for greatness as there are other players capable of challenging and snatching the crown away from the Swede-American superstar.

There’s Americans Christopher Nilsen and Sam Kendricks, who are ranked Nos. 3 and 4 in the world, and so is Australian Kurtis Marschall (No. 5), who is also a member of the exclusive 6-meter club.

The path to Olympic glory, for sure, will have its twists and turns along the way, but Obiena is determined to move heaven and earth to realize his cherished dream – winning the Olympic gold medal.