HOME > INQUIRER > Article

Text Size

small

medium

large


EJ Obiena focused on vaulting back to lofty ranking

EJ Obiena focused on vaulting back to lofty ranking

Provided by Philippine Daily Inquirer.



EJ Obiena, the Philippines’ pole vault sensation, is determined to bounce back after slipping to No. 4 in the men’s pole vault world rankings.

The two-time Olympian, who spent over a year as the world’s No. 2 behind Olympic champion and world record holder Armand Duplantis, remains optimistic about his future.

READ: EJ Obiena slides to No. 4 in world pole vault rankings

“All I can do is bounce back,” said Obiena, currently training in Saudi Arabia with Hussain Al-Hizam under renowned Ukrainian coach Vitaly Petrov. Obiena is gearing up for the indoor season opener in Germany later this month.

“That’s just life. I missed almost half of the season last year and was almost injured,” said Obiena, Asia’s top vaulter and a member of the elite six-meter club.

The 29-year-old from Tondo, Manila, narrowly missed a podium finish at the 2024 Paris Olympics, placing fourth behind Duplantis, who claimed his second consecutive gold. American Sam Kendricks and Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis took silver and bronze, respectively, later overtaking Obiena in the world rankings.

READ: EJ Obiena’s ‘dream’ pole vaulting facility set to open in Laoag

“I’m leaving those memories behind by focusing on getting back and training,” said Obiena, who suffered a stress fracture in his spine last year.

Obiena’s 2025 calendar is packed with high-profile events, including the World Athletics Indoor Championships in China in March, the Asian Championships in South Korea in May and the World Championships in Tokyo in September.

 

 

INQUIRER

HEADLINES

POLITICS
Japan PM Ishiba to Visit Vietnam, Philippines for 4 Days from April 27
ECONOMY
Foreign Visitors to Japan Up 13.5% to 3.49 M. Last Month, Record High for March
SPORTS
Task Force to Discuss Reform of Japan Games, Formerly National Sports Festival
OTHER
Painless Childbirth Cost Averages 600,000 Yen in Japan: Health Min. Panel Survey

AFP-JIJI PRESS NEWS JOURNAL


Photos