MANILA, Philippines – There’s no animosity between two popular Filipino sports champions. 

Pole vault star EJ Obiena made that clear on Wednesday, October 9, saying all stories of his rumored rift with Olympic gymnastics champion Carlos Yulo are “fabricated” and “misleading.”

“I am friends with Caloy and have been for many years. And for decades to come,” said Obiena 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 our country.” 

Obiena’s reaction came as the online rumor mill continues to pit the two current faces of Philippine sports against each other — from their private lives to sporting careers to brand endorsements. 

“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,” said Obiena.

“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.” 

Both sports stars are no stranger to controversies since their phenomenal rise, with Obiena becoming world No. 2 in pole vault and Yulo making history as the Philippines’ first double Olympic gold medalist. 

The two made headlines beyond their sporting feats over the years — Obiena on his messy rift with his national sports association and doping accusations, and Yulo on his strained family relations, controversial love life, and split 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,” the 6-foot-2 pole vaulter said.    

Obiena hopes fans would just “focus on cheering our athletes on, instead of creating false drama.”

“If some clickbait site is making up stories to suck you into the drama, recognize it for what it is. It’s abuse. It’s not journalism,” he added.

Obiena, who’s recuperating from a spine injury, said he’s focused on getting ready for the next season.

Yulo, meanwhile, had been busy with a whirlwind of events since his historic Olympic romp. He also plans to visit Japan, where he studied and trained for nearly a decade, from October 14 to 18. – Rappler.com