Filipino athletes are celebrated as national heroes when they win, showered with congratulations when they bring home medals, and praised for carrying the Philippine flag on the international stage. But when the victories stop coming, some of that applause can quickly turn into criticism. Filipino pole vault star EJ Obiena is challenging this uncomfortable side of sports fandom after speaking out in defense of tennis sensation Alex Eala, who recently faced criticism over a string of defeats on the professional circuit. In a social media post, Obiena reminded supporters that athletes are human beings, not machines expected to deliver medals on demand. His message raises a question worth asking of the country’s sporting culture: if athletes represent the Philippines in both victory and defeat, why should national pride sometimes appear conditional on the scoreboard?
Obiena, who recently defended his Asian Games pole vault title and set a new continental record, drew from his own experiences with the pressures of international competition. The world-class Olympian emphasized that a single performance cannot capture the years of preparation, personal sacrifice, and uncertainty athletes endure. “We are human. Athletes may sometimes be treated like gods. But we are not,” he wrote, stressing that even the most accomplished competitors experience difficult periods. He also urged Filipinos to offer encouragement rather than harsh judgment when athletes struggle. His remarks carry particular weight because they come from someone who has experienced both the rewards of victory and the challenges of rebuilding competitive momentum. The message was simple: athletes do not suddenly become less deserving of respect because the medal they were expected to win did not materialize.
Eala’s recent performances illustrate the pressure that can accompany extraordinary success. The 21-year-old Filipina entered 2026 having already made significant breakthroughs in international tennis and subsequently reached a career-high world ranking of No. 18. She also captured the country’s first WTA Tour-level singles title in Washington and earned a bronze medal at the Asian Games. Yet defeats against lower-ranked opponents in Singapore and Wuhan, together with her semifinal loss at the Asian Games, drew criticism despite her achievements. The contrast exposes a peculiar expectation placed on rising sports stars: accomplishments that once seemed almost unimaginable can quickly become the minimum standard demanded of them. A historic ranking becomes something to maintain, a bronze medal becomes a missed gold, and a tournament defeat becomes grounds for questioning an athlete’s ability. Apparently, making history is sometimes not enough; some expect athletes to keep rewriting it every time they compete.
The timing of Obiena’s message proved especially meaningful when Eala returned to winning form later on October 19, defeating France’s Diane Parry, 6-3, 6-1, in the opening round of the Ningbo Open in China. The straight-sets victory ended her three-match losing streak and marked her 34th WTA Tour-level win of the season, compared with just 15 career tour-level victories before 2026. But her response on the court should not become the only reason to take Obiena’s appeal seriously. His point was not that criticism becomes unfair only when an athlete eventually proves it wrong. Rather, he argued that setbacks are an unavoidable part of elite competition and that support matters most when results are disappointing. There is an important difference between constructively examining an athlete’s performance and personally attacking someone for failing to meet public expectations. The former is part of sports analysis; the latter does little to help an athlete improve.
Beyond defending Eala, Obiena extended his encouragement to Filipino para-athletes competing at the Asian Para Games in Japan, reminding supporters to recognize the efforts of athletes across different disciplines. His appeal highlights a broader responsibility shared by sports fans, institutions, and the public: celebrating Filipino athletes should involve appreciating their dedication, not merely collecting moments of national glory when they reach the podium. Victories deserve recognition, defeats deserve honest assessment, and athletes deserve respect regardless of the outcome. Eala’s recent win provides a welcome reminder of her competitive ability, but Obiena’s message remains relevant even when the next result does not go her way. The Philippine flag does not disappear from an athlete’s uniform after a loss, and neither should the country’s willingness to stand behind the person wearing it. True Pinoy pride is not just about cheering when Filipinos win. It is also about remembering they are still our athletes when they lose.