MANILA, Philippines – EJ Obiena, a 28-year-old pole vaulter, originally from Tondo, showcased an impressive array of accomplishments, notably securing gold medals in three major international tournaments while setting new records.
“He emerged the undisputed pole vault king in Asia in the year just passed,” the publication wrote on Monday.
He created history at the World Athletics Championships, becoming the first Filipino to clear 6.00 meters in pole vault. Ending the year, he secured the No. 2 ranking in his field.
“Obiena, son of track and field athletes Emerson and Jeanette Uy, is the first track athlete to be honored with the prestigious award since long jumper Marestella Torres in 2009,” the PSA said.
Obiena secured his spot as the first Filipino athlete to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics with a silver medal in a tournament in Sweden, just a day after the qualifiers for the next Olympiad commenced.
These remarkable accomplishments, including setting new records in the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Athletics Championships, and the Asian Games, where he won all three gold medals, stand out in a year marked by numerous firsts in Philippine sports history.
Additionally, he secured a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics by clearing the bar at 5.82 meters in the Diamond League-Bauhaus Galan in Sweden. Throughout the season, he also emerged victorious in several other tournaments.
At the end of 2023, the PSA acknowledged Obiena’s ascent from the sixth to the second position in the global pole vault rankings, with Armand “Mondo” Duplantis holding the top spot.
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“2023 is a year of milestones, and my heart is full of hope that 2024 will be better than the wonderful year that’s about to close. Happy new year, everyone! And thank you for the support and recognition extended my way. I am truly grateful,” Obiena said in an earlier post.
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