Eumir Marcial lifts up EJ Obiena after medal miss in Paris Olympics

EJ Obiena of the Philippines reacts during the men’s pole vault final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

MANILA, Philippines—From one two-time Filipino Olympian to another, Eumir Marcial gave EJ Obiena some words of encouragement after the pole vaulter narrowly missed a medal at the Paris Olympics 2024 on Tuesday.

Like Obiena, Marcial was also among the Philippines’ top medal bets and he too failed to make the podium in the men’s boxing 80kg.

“Nararamdaman kita bro! May mga bagay talaga dito sa mundo na hindi natin kontrolado. Dalawang linggo bago Olympics parehas nagka injury tayo dahilan para hindi tayo makaensayo ng maayos. Pero hindi yun naging hadlang para lumaban tayo dito sa Olympics,” wrote Marcial.

(I feel you, bro! There really are some things in this world we don’t have any control over. Two weeks before the Olympics, we both had injuries that hindered us from training properly. However, it did not keep us from fighting in the Olympics.)

READ: Hidilyn Diaz consoles EJ Obiena after 4th place finish

“Ngayon, umiiyak tayo dahil hindi natin naiuwi ang tagumpay na gusto natin pagbalik ng Pilipinas. Masakit dahil mahal natin yung ginagawa natin at importante ito para saatin,” Marcial added.

(Right now, we feel down because we were not able to bring home the victory for the Philippines. It hurts because we both love what we do and it’s important to us.)

After winning the bronze medal at the Tokyo Games, Marcial was tipped to return to the podium in Paris.

The Philippines’ Eumir Marcial, right, fights Uzbekistan’s Turabek Khabibullaev in their preliminary men’s 80kg boxing match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/John Locher)

READ: EJ Obiena apologizes for missing out on Paris Olympics medal

The 28-year-old Marcial, however, suffered an early exit after dropping his opening bout against Uzbekistan’s Turabek Khabibullaev by unanimous decision.

The World No. 2 Obiena, meanwhile, reached the men’s pole vault final but fell one good attempt short of securing a medal, losing the tiebreak to Greece’s Emmanouil Karais for the bronze.

“Malungkot tayo ngayon pero darating ang panahon sa atin naman ang tagumpay.”

(We may be sad now, but the time will come when the victory will be ours.)