Obiena slams rumored rift with Yulo

Metro Manila, Philippines — Pole vault star EJ Obiena made it clear on Wednesday, Oct. 9, that stories about his rumored rift with Olympic double gold medalist Carlos Yulo were misleading and fabricated.

“I am friends with Caloy and have been for many years. And for decades to come,” he said in a social media post.

“I don’t compete with my friend Caloy and I deeply respect him. He is a great champion for our country and I applaud him. I am proud of him. I am thankful for the glory he has brought to our country,” he added.

Obiena clarified that he has not made any comments about Yulo's private life.

The pole vaulter responded to online posts that pitted him against Yulo, from personal lives and sporting careers to brand deals.

“I don’t comment on my private life and I certainly don’t want outsiders commenting on it. That’s why it’s called ‘private life.’ It’s personal. It’s nobody else’s business,” he stressed.

“Because I embrace these values, I never comment on someone else’s personal life. I have never made a single comment regarding Caloy’s private life and I never shall. Any assertion otherwise is outright libel. I know when to keep my mouth shut; and when it comes to anyone’s private life this is one of those times,” he added.

Obiena and Yulo are not new to controversies since their steady rise to fame. Obiena has soared to world No. 2, while Yulo made history as the first Filipino to win two Olympic gold medals.

The two athletes also made headlines that went beyond their sporting achievements through the years.

Obiena and his messy relationship with the national athletics association and doping accusations, and Yulo on his family estrangement and parting ways with his longtime Japanese coach.

“I have hoped and tried to stay silent and not fuel anymore of the misleading stories. It’s a sad state of affairs when stories are fabricated to get clicks and likes and shares. Journalism is a noble profession driven by facts. It’s a shame it is sometimes abused,” Obiena said.

Obiena missed a podium finish after landing fourth in the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Obiena, who is recovering from a spine injury, said he is focusing on bouncing back for the next season.

Yulo, meanwhile, is planning to visit Japan this month. The place where he studied and trained for almost a decade.