EJ Obiena comes up short, finishes fourth in pole vault
EJ Obiena narrowly missed securing the Philippines’ first Olympic medal in athletics in 88 years, finishing a commendable fourth place in the Men’s Pole Vault event on Tuesday morning (Manila time).
Obiena showcased his extraordinary talent and unwavering spirit, recording a best jump of 5.90 meters. Despite his remarkable efforts, Obiena was unable to clear 5.95 meters in three attempts, landing him fourth in the 12-man final at the Stade de France.
This performance marks a significant improvement for Obiena, who placed 11th at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. His determination and skill were on full display, giving the Philippines a reason to celebrate his journey and success on the grandest stage.
Meanwhile, Sweden’s Armand Duplantis, the world’s top-ranked pole vaulter, soared to his second consecutive Olympic gold medal, effortlessly clearing the 6.0-meter mark.
Already assured of the gold, the 24-year-old champion then shattered the previous Olympic record set by Brazil’s Thiago Braz in Rio, effortlessly clearing 6.10 meters on his first attempt.
Duplantis didn’t stop there; he reset his own world record by clearing 6.25 meters on his third attempt, breaking his previous record of 6.24 meters set earlier this year. This new mark also stands as the new Olympic record.
The 6-meter bar proved to be the defining threshold in the competition, as silver medalist Sam Kendricks of Team USA and bronze medalist Emmanouil Karalis of Greece both failed their attempts at surpassing this height. Kendricks cleared 5.95 meters on his first attempt to secure second place, while Karalis, who cleared 5.90 meters like Obiena, missed his first attempt at 5.95 meters and chose to pass on further attempts.
Obiena’s journey and performance have left an indelible mark on the Philippines’ athletics history, and his future in the sport remains bright with potential for further success.
