Kung kadalasan, ang mga coaches ang tumatayong stage dad at stage mom ng kanilang mga atleta sa mga competitions, nabaligtad naman ang role ng Pinoy pole vaulter na si EJ Obiena at ng kanyang long-time coach na si Vitaly Petrov sa ginanap na awarding International Olympic Committee.
Napili kasi si Vitaly bilang isa sa mga tumanngap ng IOC Coaches Lifetime Achievement Award kasabay ni Great Britain Aquatics Coach Jane Figueiredo.
Para kay EJ, deserve na deserve ng kanyang coach ang award dahil sa pagiging coach nito hindi lamang sa pole vault kundi sa buhay.
“I would never just characterise Vitaly Petrov as a great pole vault coach. No! This would be selling the man short. He is far beyond this. He is a great coach of human beings. He uses pole vaulting as a means to improve people’s lives, my life,” ani EJ sa kanyang tribute post.
Dagdag pa niya, “Yes he has made me a better vaulter. But he has made me to a better human being. Gave me a better shot at life. And this is the ultimate measure of a greatness.”
Siyempre, kahit na black tie event ang okasyon, hindi nakalimutan ni EJ isuot ang kanyang customized socks na nagtataglay ng mukha ng kanyang coach na nauna na niyang isinuot nang lumaban siya sa Paris Olympics.
