MANILA, Philippines — A day after Tondo-born E. J. Obiena set a new Southeast Asian (SEA) Games record of 5.45 meters and took the gold medal in pole vault at the Athletics Stadium in New Clark City last week, he flew back to training camp in Formia, Italy to do “foundation” work in preparing for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Petrov, 81, lives in Formia and attends to only two athletes, Obiena and reigning Olympic pole vault gold medalist and record holder (6.03 meters) Thiago Braz da Silva of Brazil.
