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Tag: Pole Vault

  • EJ Obiena captures back-to-back golds in Germany

    EJ Obiena captures back-to-back golds in Germany

    EJ Obiena marked his second consecutive title in Germany and his seventh gold medal of the 2026 season as he cleared  5.83 meters on his first attempt to claim the gold medal at the 30th International Pole Vault Meeting in Jockgrim, Germany on Wednesday.


    Despite battling through a difficult warm-up and an uneven start to the competition, the Filipino pole vaulter Obiena found his rhythm when it mattered most, wherein he further strengthened his momentum as he continue his European campaign.

     

    Obiena needed just one attempt to clear the winning height of 5.83m, finishing ahead of Qatar’s Seifeldin Abdelsalam, who also managed 5.83m but required more attempts. Türkiye’s Ersu Şaşma settled for third after clearing 5.77m.

     

    All three medalists raised the bar to 5.93 meters in search of a higher finish, but none were able to clear the height after three attempts.

     

    Following the competition, the two-time Olympian admitted the victory was anything but comfortable.

     

    “5.83m for the in front of a packed J-Town!!! Was far from smooth competition and some struggles during warm up and earlier bars but happy to scrape an 80 bar. We continue to work and now a few trainings in before we go again,” Obiena wrote on his social media.

     

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    The triumph came only days after Obiena ruled the Internationales Stabhochsprungmeeting in Halberstadt on July 31 with a winning clearance of 5.76 meters, giving him consecutive victories in Germany and extending an already productive season.

     

    His 2026 campaign began with a gold medal at the International Springer-Meeting in Cottbus before adding another title at the ISTAF Indoor Berlin in March. 

     

    The latest win further reinforces his consistency as one of the world’s top pole vaulters.

     

    Obiena remains among the elite names in men’s pole vault, holding the Philippine and Asian record of 6.00 meters and currently sitting No. 14 in the latest World Athletics men’s pole vault rankings. 

     

    The Filipino standout is also a World Championships silver and bronze medalist, highlighting his sustained success against the sport’s best.

     

    With several high-level European meets still ahead, every competition serves as another opportunity for Obiena to sharpen his form before the major championships later in the season. 

     

    His recent string of victories suggests he is building momentum at the right time as he continues chasing bigger heights and more international podium finishes.

     

     

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  • EJ Obiena strikes gold again, extends dominant run with Germany triumph

    EJ Obiena strikes gold again, extends dominant run with Germany triumph

    Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena’s return to top form continues to gain momentum. Just weeks after posting his season-best clearance and collecting consecutive podium finishes, Obiena once again found himself standing atop the podium after claiming the gold medal at the Halberstadter Hohenflug – 1. Internationales Stabhochsprung-Meeting auf dem Domplatz in Halberstadt, Germany.


    Obiena worked his way through the competition, clearing 5.56 meters on his opening attempt before easily getting over 5.66 meters to keep himself in command of the field.

     

    As the bar rose higher, the battle for the title was trimmed to only two athletes—Obiena and Qatar’s Abdelsalam Seifeldin. 

     

    While Seifeldin needed three attempts to clear 5.66 meters, the Filipino Olympian remained composed before soaring over 5.76 meters to seize complete control of the competition.

     

    Seifeldin failed to clear 5.76 meters in all three of his attempts, officially handing the gold medal to the 30-year-old World No. 14.

     

    With the victory already secured, Obiena raised the bar to 5.90 meters in pursuit of an even bigger statement. Although he came up short in all three attempts, his winning clearance was enough to top the 10-man field and collect another international title.

     

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    The latest triumph marked Obiena’s sixth gold medal of his 2026 campaign. His win adds to his victories at the Czeslaw Cybulski Memorial in Poland on June 30 and the Raiffeisen Austrian Open in Austria on July 2.

     

    Meanwhile, Qatar’s Seifeldin settled for the silver medal after clearing 5.66 meters, while American Cole Walsh completed the podium with a third-place finish after clearing 5.56 meters.

     

    The result further reinforces the momentum Obiena has built over the past several weeks. Before competing in Halberstadt, the Filipino standout produced a season-best 5.85-meter clearance in Madrid. 

     

    He earns another silver medal while extending a streak of three consecutive competitions clearing at least 5.80 meters—a sign that he is steadily regaining the form that once made him one of the world’s elite pole vaulters.

     

    Obiena’s busy European schedule is far from over. He is set to remain in Germany for the Internationale Stabhochsprungmeeting in Jockgrim, another meet that has historically attracted world-class pole vaulters and serves as a valuable stop before major international championships.

     

    As the reigning Asian Games champion, Obiena is expected to defend his title at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya this September, with every competition on the European circuit serving as another opportunity to sharpen his form ahead of one of the biggest events on his calendar.

     

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  • EJ Obiena reaches season-best, claims Meeting Madrid silver

    EJ Obiena reaches season-best, claims Meeting Madrid silver

    Filipino Olympic pole vaulter EJ Obiena continued his upward trajectory on the international circuit after capturing the silver medal at the Meeting Madrid 2026, part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver, behind a season-best clearance of 5.85 meters.


    Less than a month after making the bold decision to relocate his training base to Athens, Greece, the Filipino pole vaulter is already seeing encouraging results.

     

    It marked another important milestone in Obiena’s buildup toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with the 30-year-old showing signs that his new training environment is beginning to produce immediate gains.

     

    After comfortably clearing 5.50 meters and 5.75 meters, Obiena needed just two attempts to soar over 5.85 meters, eclipsing his previous season-best of 5.78 meters set at the ISTAF Indoor meet in Berlin earlier this year. It also became his first successful clearance above 5.80 meters since September 2025.

     

    Obiena then attempted 5.95 meters, a height that would have secured the gold medal, but was unable to clear the bar in his three tries.

     

    Still, the Filipino star welcomed the performance as another step in the right direction.

    “Green socks 🧦 for the green track of Madrid 🇪🇸 5.85m for 2nd place🥈and SB here @athleticstoures . Thank you for having us. Will get this bar next time,” Obiena wrote on his social media post.

     

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    Germany’s Bo Kanda Lita Baehre claimed the gold after clearing 5.90 meters, while Portugal’s Pedro Buaro also registered 5.85 meters but settled for bronze after requiring three attempts at the height, giving Obiena the silver via countback.

     

    The podium finish continues a stretch of positive performances for the Philippine record-holder. Prior to Madrid, Obiena collected back-to-back gold medals in meets held in Poland and Austria before narrowly missing the podium at the Fly Athens Street Pole Vault, where he cleared 5.81 meters but lost out on countback.

     

    His latest performance suggests that the transition to Greece is beginning to bear fruit.

     

    Months ago, Obiena officially transferred his training base to Athens and began working under Polish coach Marcin Szczepanski. He now trains alongside Greek Olympian and world No. 2 Emmanuel Karalis at a facility built for the 2004 Athens Olympics.

     

    The move represented one of the biggest changes of Obiena’s career after years of training elsewhere, with the Filipino vaulter believing the new setup offers the best opportunity to elevate his performances over the next Olympic cycle.

     

    Currently ranked No. 14 in the latest men’s pole vault world rankings, Obiena has made no secret that every competition forms part of a bigger objective—putting himself in the strongest position possible to contend for a medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

     

    Madrid may not have delivered the gold, but the season-best 5.85-meter clearance provided another sign that Obiena is steadily building momentum as the outdoor campaign progresses.

     

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  • EJ Obiena breaks 5.80m barrier with season-best leap in Greece 

    EJ Obiena breaks 5.80m barrier with season-best leap in Greece 

    EJ Obiena may have finished just outside the podium at the Fly Athens tournament, but his latest performance could prove to be more significant than another podium finish.


    The Filipino pole vault ace finally broke through the 5.80-meter barrier this season, clearing a season-best 5.81 meters at the historic Panathenaic Stadium in Greece to signal that his climb back among the world’s elite is gaining momentum.

     

    Fresh off consecutive gold-medal performances in Poland and Austria, Obiena improved on his previous season-best of 5.78 meters, which he recorded at the ISTAF Indoor meet in Berlin earlier this year. The mark also represented his first clearance above 5.80 meters since last September.

     

    Although the jump was enough to put him in a five-way tie at 5.81 meters, the countback rule ultimately relegated Obiena to fourth place.

     

    The World No. 14 finished level with Emmanouil Karalis, Dutch vaulter Menno Vloon, Turkey’s Ersu Sasma, and France’s Baptiste Thiery. Karalis, the 2024 Paris Olympics bronze medalist, claimed third place on countback, leaving the Filipino just short of another international podium.

     

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    Despite narrowly missing a medal, Obiena welcomed the milestone after weeks of chasing the elusive height.

     

    “I have not seen you 5.80m bar in awhile. I have missed you. Step in the right direction and onto the next,” Obiena wrote in a social media post.

     

    The competition was won by Christopher Nilsen of the United States, who cleared 5.91 meters to secure the title on countback over France’s Thibaut Collet, who also matched the winning height.

     

    Obiena entered Athens carrying strong form after capturing back-to-back outdoor titles. He first won in Poland with a 5.72-meter clearance before topping the Raiffeisen Austrian Open with 5.75 meters, adding another gold medal to his growing collection this season.

     

    His latest result also serves as another encouraging sign after two injury-plagued years that slowed the momentum of the former World No. 2 and Asian record holder, who owns a personal best of 6.00 meters.

     

    The 5.81-meter clearance suggests Obiena is gradually rediscovering the consistency that once made him one of the world’s premier pole vaulters, with bigger competitions still ahead on the international calendar.

     

    His upward trajectory could continue sooner rather than later, as Obiena is scheduled to compete next at the Gyulai Istvan Memorial in Budapest, Hungary on July 14. The Filipino Olympian also shared that he will continue training in Athens under new coach Marcin Szczepanski, expressing confidence that his performances are moving in the right direction as he builds toward the remainder of the season.

     

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  • EJ Obiena rediscovers top form with back-to-back outdoor golds 

    EJ Obiena rediscovers top form with back-to-back outdoor golds 

    The Filipino pole vault star, EJ Obiena has rediscovered his winning rhythm, capturing his second consecutive gold medal after producing a season-best leap of 5.75 meters at the Raiffeisen Austrian Open in Eisenstadt, Austria.


    The victory came just days after Obiena topped the field at the Czeslaw Cybulski Memorial in Poznan, Poland with a 5.72-meter clearance, giving the two-time Olympian back-to-back titles for the first time in this year’s outdoor season.

     

    His latest triumph was anything but straightforward. Competing through windy conditions and a competition that stretched past 11 p.m., Obiena needed multiple attempts before finally clearing the winning height of 5.75 meters. 

     

    The mark not only secured the gold medal but also established a new stadium record in Eisenstadt.

     

    Obiena finished comfortably ahead of Great Britain’s Owen Heard and Czech Republic’s Dan Barta, who both settled for 5.55 meters.

     

    “After many, many, many runs and third attempts, we needed to call it a night after 11 p.m. Thank you very much for having (me),” Obiena wrote on social media.

     

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    The performance served as another encouraging sign that the Asian record holder is steadily rounding into form after an up-and-down outdoor campaign.

     

    Obiena opened the season by clearing 5.74 meters to finish runner-up at a meet in Germany before struggling to an eighth-place finish at the Diamond League in Doha, Qatar with a clearance of 5.42 meters. 

     

    He then improved to fourth at the FBK Games in the Netherlands after clearing 5.64 meters before breaking through with consecutive victories in Poland and Austria.

     

    His winning jump of 5.75 meters surpassed his previous outdoor season best and showed the consistency that had been missing during the early stages of the campaign.

     

    Just as significant was the manner in which he earned the victory. Obiena successfully negotiated pressure-filled third attempts at both 5.65 meters and 5.75 meters before deciding against chasing a higher bar after already securing first place, a decision made with an eye toward preserving his body for the competitions ahead.

     

    The result also strengthens Obiena’s preparations for a busy stretch on the European circuit. Following his triumph in Austria, the Filipino ace is scheduled to compete at the Fly Athens Street Pole Vault event in Greece as he continues building toward the major international championships later this season.

     

    With confidence growing and his performances trending upward, Obiena appears to be peaking at the right time. After navigating early-season setbacks, the Filipino Olympian has once again shown the form that has made him one of the world’s premier pole vaulters.

     

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  • EJ Obiena breaks through with first outdoor gold of the 2026 season in Poland 

    EJ Obiena breaks through with first outdoor gold of the 2026 season in Poland 

    After weeks of chasing the breakthrough that had eluded him, Filipino pole vault ace EJ Obiena finally found his winning form, capturing his first outdoor title of the 2025 season at the Czeslaw Cybulski Memorial in Poznan, Poland on Monday, June 29.


    The two-time Olympian delivered a composed performance, clearing 5.72 meters to top the field and return to the top step of the podium after a string of frustrating results on the European circuit.

     

    Obiena finished ahead of Great Britain’s Owen Heard, who settled for silver after clearing 5.60m, while Italy’s Matteo Oliveri claimed the bronze medal with the same height but lost the tiebreak on countback after requiring more attempts.

     

    The Filipino strategically entered the competition at 5.40m after passing on the opening height of 5.25m, clearing it on his first attempt. 

     

    He then needed two tries to get over 5.60m before opting to skip 5.67m altogether and successfully clearing 5.72m on his second attempt—a height that ultimately secured the gold medal.

     

    Still seeking to improve his mark, Obiena raised the bar to 5.77m but was unable to clear it. 

     

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    He then gambled on 5.82m, where three unsuccessful attempts ended his campaign. By then, however, none of his rivals had matched his winning clearance of 5.72m.

     

    The victory marked a significant turnaround for the 29-year-old, whose outdoor campaign had been filled with near misses despite consistently competing against some of the world’s top vaulters. 

     

    It was his second podium finish of the season after taking silver at the Flight Circus meet in Düsseldorf, Germany earlier this month.

     

    More importantly, the triumph halted a difficult run that saw Obiena finish eighth at the Diamond League stop in Doha, Qatar on June 19 after managing only 5.42m. 

     

    He also narrowly missed another podium with a fourth-place finish at the FBK Games in Hengelo, Netherlands, making his success in Poznan a timely confidence boost as he continues his preparations for the major championships later this season.

     

    The victory also comes at an important stage of the outdoor campaign, with several high-profile meets still on the calendar before the season’s major championships. 

     

     

    Building confidence through strong performances will be crucial for Obiena as he aims to improve his world ranking and sustain his form heading into the latter half of the year, where every competition offers valuable points and experience against elite opposition. 

     

     

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  • EJ Obiena shifts training base to Greece, begins new chapter toward LA 2028 Olympics

    EJ Obiena shifts training base to Greece, begins new chapter toward LA 2028 Olympics

    Filipino pole vault star Ernest John “EJ” Obiena continues to solidify his place among the world’s elite in athletics, further strengthening a legacy that has already made him one of the greatest athletes the Philippines has produced.

     

    At just 30 years old, Obiena owns an extensive international résumé highlighted by multiple podium finishes on the global stage, consistent Diamond League performances, and a career-high ranking as World No. 2 in men’s pole vault. His achievements have not only elevated Philippine athletics but have also established him as one of Asia’s premier competitors in the discipline.

     

    Now, Obiena is entering a pivotal new phase in his career as he relocates his training base to Athens, Greece—a strategic move aimed at refining his preparation for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The decision also places him in closer proximity to top-level competition, including current World No. 2 Emmanuel Karalis, with whom he will share training environments under the guidance of coach Marcin Szczepański.

     

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    For Obiena, the shift represents both a competitive and developmental opportunity as he seeks to push his limits further in pursuit of Olympic glory.

     

    “Training with Emmanuel and his group is definitely a big thing. We have a bunch of different vaulters there, different strengths and weaknesses. I’m not really great at the gym, so I’m not the strongest athlete out there. Having someone that’s actually pretty good and strong pulls me to that direction. Training with someone has always been helpful. That’s how I got to World No. 2,” Obiena said in a media interaction.

     

    The move to Greece followed a brief 10-day training stint in Athens, during which Obiena evaluated his long-term direction before ultimately deciding to establish the country as his new base. The transition also marks the end of a highly successful 12-year coaching partnership with legendary Italian mentor Vitaly Petrov, under whom Obiena developed into a world-class pole vaulter.

    Petrov played a central role in shaping Obiena’s career, guiding him from a promising prospect into a consistent international medal contender. Under his mentorship, Obiena became the Asian champion, a World Championships medalist, an Olympic finalist, and notably, the first Asian athlete to clear the elite six-meter mark in pole vault history.

     

    Reflecting on their long-standing partnership, Obiena expressed deep gratitude for the impact Petrov had on both his athletic development and personal growth.

     

    “The more days that came, the more positive I felt about the decision I made. Vitaly has been more than just a coach for me. He’s been a mentor. Probably a second father or grandfather you can say. I owe the guy a lot. I really respect him. I love him,” he added.

     

    He further credited Petrov for expanding his ambitions beyond what he initially envisioned when he first began training in Formia, Italy.

     

    “I wouldn’t be here. My vision when I went to Formia the first year was to jump over five meters outdoors. Maybe at the end of my career, jump 5.20m. That was my vision. This guy, not knowing me, had a bigger vision for my career,” Obiena continued.

     

    Now fully focused on the next chapter, Obiena is driven by one remaining goal that continues to motivate his pursuit of excellence on the global stage: an Olympic medal at the Los Angeles 2028 Games—the one major accolade still missing from his decorated career.

     

    “That’s the medal I am missing. That’s the medal I want to get,” he concluded.

     

    Obiena is expected to continue his competitive campaign on the Diamond League circuit, with his next appearance scheduled in Doha, where he will look to maintain form and momentum as he builds toward the next Olympic cycle.

     

     

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  • EJ Obiena kicks off outdoor campaign with silver medal in Germany 

    EJ Obiena kicks off outdoor campaign with silver medal in Germany 

    EJ Obiena’s quest to climb back among the world’s elite pole vaulters began with a promising start in Germany.


    The Filipino Olympian opened his outdoor season by capturing the silver medal at the Eurowings Flight Circus in Dusseldorf, clearing 5.74 meters in a performance that offered an encouraging glimpse of where his form stands heading into a busy international calendar.

     

    While the result did not end with a gold medal, it provided exactly the kind of momentum Obiena was hoping to build as he continues his push to regain ground in the world rankings after slipping to No. 13 following years of competing among the sport’s very best.

     

    Standing in his way was American star Chris Nilsen, the Tokyo Olympics silver medalist, who delivered a record-breaking performance to claim the title. Nilsen cleared 5.83m to set a new meet record, surpassing the previous mark of 5.82m established by Dutch Olympian Menno Vloon last year.

     

    Qatar’s Seifeldin Abdelsalam rounded out the podium with a bronze-medal finish after clearing 5.65m.

     

    For Obiena, the competition served as more than just another event. It marked his return to outdoor action after several months away from competition following the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland, where he finished ninth with a clearance of 5.70m.

     

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    “Battled through some swirling winds but overall happy how it all went,” he said on his social media account.

     

    The conditions proved challenging, but Obiena navigated them strategically.

     

    The two-time Olympian bypassed the opening heights of 5.10m and 5.30m, opting to begin his day at 5.50m. The gamble paid off as he cleared the height successfully before finding a rhythm at 5.65m on his first attempt.

     

    He then overcame 5.74m on his second try to secure second place and put himself in contention for a higher finish.

     

    Obiena later attempted to match Nilsen’s winning height of 5.83m before taking three shots at 5.90m, but was unable to clear either mark.

     

    Still, the silver-medal result represented a positive step forward for the 30-year-old, who is looking to rebuild momentum after injuries and inconsistent results affected his ranking over the past few seasons.

     

    Obiena is scheduled to compete in the next stop of the Diamond League circuit in Doha, Qatar, where he will face a deeper field and another opportunity to measure himself against the world’s top vaulters.

     

    After opening his outdoor campaign with a podium finish and a 5.74m clearance, Obiena heads to Doha carrying both confidence and momentum as he continues his climb back toward the sport’s upper echelon.

     

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  • PATAFA hopes to feature EJ Obiena in Cebu’s hosting of the 2028 Asian Beach Games 

    PATAFA hopes to feature EJ Obiena in Cebu’s hosting of the 2028 Asian Beach Games 

    Team Philippines is enjoying a strong campaign in the 2026 Asian Beach Games, positioning itself among the top-performing nations as the competition unfolds. With a current haul of eight medals—three golds, three silvers, and two bronzes—the country sits fourth overall in the medal standings, underscoring a productive showing across multiple disciplines despite a relatively modest delegation.

     

    The solid performance not only reflects the steady progress of Philippine beach sports but also serves as a timely boost as the country begins preparations for a much larger undertaking: hosting the 2028 edition of the Asian Beach Games in Cebu City. With the spotlight set to shine on home soil, Philippine sports officials are already exploring ways to elevate the event and maximize both competitive success and fan engagement.

     

    Among those leading the charge is the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association, which is pushing to expand the athletics program for 2028. A key proposal includes the introduction of pole vault—an event rarely associated with beach competitions but one that could become a marquee attraction for Filipino fans.

     

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    The inclusion of pole vault could pave the way for the country’s biggest track and field star, EJ Obiena, to compete in front of a home crowd in a unique setting. Obiena, widely regarded as Asia’s top pole vaulter, would undoubtedly be a major draw should the event be approved.

     

    “Nag-uusap na kami ng mga officials. I think yung isang way na maganda is yung pole vault event which is ginagawa na ito sa Busan na nasa sand. May runway lang yung pole vault. Maganda ito kasi tayo yung No. 1 in Asia sa pole vault in the name of EJ Obiena so it’s good na mapanood din. So hopefully. I’m not saying na mayroon ka agad pero tayo ang host so we will see,” said PATAFA secretary general Jasper Tanhueco during a media interaction.

    While plans for 2028 are already taking shape, the current campaign continues to deliver encouraging results. Despite fielding just a seven-athlete contingent in athletics, Team Philippines has managed to punch above its weight, emerging as the second-best performing national sports association in the discipline during the Games.

     

    Leading the charge is Leonard Grospe, who clinched the gold medal in the men’s high jump with an impressive performance on the sand-based setup. On the track, Jessica Laurance added to the medal tally with a silver finish in the women’s 60-meter race, showcasing both speed and adaptability in the unconventional beach environment. The women’s sprint relay team also delivered, capturing silver in the 4×60-meter event to further highlight the country’s depth in short-distance running.

     

    These results are particularly noteworthy given the unique challenges of beach athletics, where athletes must adjust to competing on sand—a surface that significantly alters speed, balance, and technique. For many Filipino athletes, the current edition marks their first exposure to this format, making their success even more commendable.

     

    Looking ahead, Tanhueco emphasized that the Philippines is committed to building a deeper and more competitive roster by the time it hosts the Games in 2028. With the advantage of home support and more structured preparations, the delegation is expected to grow significantly in both size and strength.

     

    “Definitely we will have more participants prior to our hosting. We will have our own qualifying as well. Siyempre mas paghahandaan natin medyo challenging kasi karamihan actually first time nila magcompete sa beach. Mas paghahandaan pa natin,” he concluded.

     

    As the 2026 campaign continues, Team Philippines is not only chasing medals but also laying the groundwork for a potentially historic hosting stint in Cebu. With momentum on their side and ambitious plans in motion, the country is positioning itself to make an even bigger impact when it welcomes Asia’s best beach sport athletes in 2028.

     

     

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  • “If I could, I would be a hurdler”: Pole Vault icon EJ Obiena on his first love in athletics

    “If I could, I would be a hurdler”: Pole Vault icon EJ Obiena on his first love in athletics

    Filipino pole vault star EJ Obiena has long cemented his status as one of the greatest athletes the Philippines has ever produced. At just 30 years old, Obiena boasts an impressive résumé highlighted by multiple international podium finishes and a stint as World No. 2 in men’s pole vault—an achievement that underscores his place among the global elite and solidifies his standing as Asia’s premier athlete in the discipline.

     

    While Obiena is now synonymous with pole vaulting excellence, his journey into the sport was not always set in stone. In fact, the Filipino standout revealed that his first love in track and field was a completely different event—hurdling.

     

    “If I could, I would be a hurdler. Unfortunately, I’m not as fast as I would want to be competitive in that sport. Hurdling was my mum’s event; it was the first event I did for track and field. It’s something that I truly enjoyed,” Obiena shared during a recent media interaction.

     

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    The revelation offers a glimpse into the early influences that shaped his athletic development. His exposure to hurdling, a highly technical event requiring rhythm, speed, and coordination, played a key role in building the foundation for his eventual success in pole vaulting. According to Obiena, the crossover benefits between the two disciplines are significant.

    “You know, it’s definitely something that provides us a better form of sprinting, because you can’t just sprint in between the hurdles, you are going to have to have form. Maybe before I call it a day with this sport, the career that I don, maybe I will run the 110 hurdles in the SEA Games,” he added.

     

    Pole vaulting demands a unique combination of explosive speed, technical precision, and upper-body strength, and Obiena’s background in hurdling has contributed to his refined approach on the runway. His ability to generate speed while maintaining form has been a crucial factor in his consistency on the international stage, allowing him to compete against—and often defeat—the world’s best.

     

    Over the years, Obiena has carried the Philippine flag with pride in major global competitions, including the Olympic Games and World Athletics Championships. He has consistently delivered strong performances, bringing attention to a discipline that rarely takes center stage in Southeast Asia. His success has also inspired a new generation of Filipino athletes to pursue track and field, particularly in technical events like pole vault.

     

    Looking ahead, Obiena has made it clear that his sights are firmly set on one final goal: an Olympic medal. The Filipino ace confirmed that the 2028 Summer Olympics will likely mark the final chapter of his Olympic journey—a fitting stage for what he hopes will be a crowning achievement in his already illustrious career.

     

    “LA is to probably be my last Olympics I will be doing. That’s the one I’m missing from my collection. I haven’t had an Olympic medal, you know. I was close, but not close enough. I need to prepare, these last two-and-a-half years, make sure that when the time comes I’m ready, I’m fit, injury-free, and be able to compete at the highest level,” Obiena concluded.

     

    As he enters what could be the final stretch of his competitive career, Obiena remains focused, motivated, and determined to leave a lasting legacy. Whether it’s clearing record-breaking heights or, perhaps one day, returning to his hurdling roots, EJ Obiena continues to embody excellence, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of greatness in Philippine sports.

     

     

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