MANILA, Philippines – EJ Obiena is determined to push his limits and vie for an Olympic gold medal in a highly competitive field at the upcoming Paris Games. Obiena, who recently became the first Asian pole vaulter to clear the six-meter mark, welcomes the ambitious challenge set by Terry Capistrano, the president of the Philippine Athletics and Track and Field Association. Capistrano has challenged Obiena to surpass 6.25m, a height yet to be achieved by any pole vaulter.
Obiena, currently ranked third in the world, is motivated to rise to the occasion and reach new heights in pursuit of his Olympic dream. Joining him in the prestigious six-meter club are three other top-ranked athletes: Armand Duplantis of Sweden, the reigning Olympic champion and world record holder at 6.22m, KC Lightfoot of the USA, and Sondre Guttormsen of Norway.
Capistrano expressed his expectations, stating, “I said you have to do 6.25. That will make all of us very comfortable going towards next year.” Obiena, accepting the challenge, affirmed his commitment by saying, “I’m up for the challenge. I know what [Capistrano] meant by that. We’re gunning for gold in Paris.”
During the Bergen Jump Challenge in Norway, Obiena showcased a new 20-step technique, surpassing his previous 18-step approach, to achieve the golden vault. While acknowledging the difficulty of controlling the new method, Obiena believes he can still improve and raise the bar even higher. He defeated prominent American athletes, including USA record holder Lightfoot and Tokyo Games silver medalist Chris Nilsen, in the process.
With the Olympic qualification period beginning on July 1, Obiena aims to meet the entry standard of 5.82m and secure his ticket to Paris. He will compete in the BAUHAS-Galan event in Stockholm, Sweden on July 2 as part of his journey towards the Olympic Games.
