MANILA — Filipino Olympic pole vaulter EJ Obiena has stepped forward to shield tennis star Alex Eala from mounting public criticism, urging sports enthusiasts to maintain their backing during inevitable career slumps.
Reflecting on the unpredictable nature of elite sports, the 30-year-old two-time Asian Games champion stressed that competitors face normal human limitations despite high expectations from fans.
“We are human. Athletes may sometimes be treated like gods. But we are not. We have good days and bad days, just like everyone else. One result cannot define a person,” Obiena wrote in a social media statement on Monday, October 19.
Eala, 21, recently encountered a challenging period on the court following a historic victory at the Mubadala DC Open—where she became the first Filipino to secure a Women’s Tennis Association Tour singles title.
Her recent setbacks include a slip to No. 20 in the WTA rankings, early exits at the Singapore Open and Wuhan Open, and a semifinal defeat to China’s Xiyu Wang at the 20th Asian Games held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Addressing critics who question the young tennis player’s momentum, Obiena emphasized that setbacks are standard components of athletic growth rather than definitive failures.
“Failure is not synonymous with losing. Even the greats lose. A bad competition, a losing streak, even a difficult season: sooner or later every athlete faces them. Perfection can be the objective, but nobody wins everything,” he noted.
Obiena, who recently successfully defended his own men’s pole vault crown at the Asian Games by clearing a record-setting 5.91 meters, urged supporters to uplift competitors when they struggle.
“Support matters. If you want to help Alex, me, or any athlete, pick us up when we are down,” he said.
Concluding his message, Obiena reminded the public that the unpredictability of victory and defeat is precisely what gives sports its unique character.
“So asking if Alex’s string of losses suggests she has failed is the wrong question (or for any national athlete for that matter, yours truly included). There is no such thing as failure in attempting, and in sports, there are good days and bad days, and some days you win and some days you lose, which is what gives sport its beauty and toughness.”