Ernest Obiena chilling out with his father and Coach Emerson Obiena at the Singapore SEA Games 2015 (photo credit: Veloci L/Time Studio)
Article by Emerson Obiena
SAFETY REMINDERS FOR OUR POLE VAULTERS Pole vaulting is often perceived by
many as a dangerous activity, Though there are far more higher statistics of injury in other
sports, when accident do happen in pole vaulting, it can side line you for a season or more.
That is why it is very important that we understand why they happen and do everything
possible to prevent them.
With our limited available facilities, we often find ourselves training altogether in one place
that is Ultra Track oval in Pasig which is open to the public. While it is uplifting to hear and
see spectators cheering and clapping when a pole vaulter clears a bar, it is very discouraging
to see a pole vaulter having a close call or falling back to the ground instead of the soft
landing pit and hurting them selves.
If a pole vaulter OFTEN barely land inside the landing pit, obviously there is something
wrong and the probability of that athlete having an accident is high. As coaches it is our duty
to make sensible decisions with the SAFETY of our athletes FIRST in our mind.
As an athlete or a coach, being aware of the risk of this sport doesn’t mean you are “soft” as
others might think, It’s true that a pole vaulter should be “brave” but not “Foolish”. We only
have one body and we are not like salamanders that can regenerate limbs. Having a healthy
respect to this sport had helped me become a better athlete and let me enjoy this sport until
now. Vault high, vault safe!!!
.
About the author: Emerson Obiena is a national coach and one of the founders of the
Philippine Pole Vault Club. He is the countries #2 All Time Pole Vaulter (4.95m) and holds
the Asian Masters Record.
Related articles
- Olympic Pole Vaulter’s Pole Snaps in Midair, Nearly Breaks His Neck (Video) (nesn.com)
- Pole Vaulter’s Pole Breaks Mid-Vault, Is Basically The Scariest Thing Ever (sportsgrid.com)
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