Rising Above: Ej Obiena's golden lead for Philippine sports

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Pole vaulting may not be the Philippines’ most familiar sport, but Ernest John “EJ” Obiena made sure the nation would remember his name on October 3, 2023. That day in Hangzhou, China, he soared past the bar and into history as the first Filipino to ever win an Asian Games gold in pole vault.

For Obiena, it was not just about clearing 5.90 meters, breaking the Games record, and outlasting Asia’s best. It was about proving that a Filipino athlete could stand tall on the global stage in an event long dominated by Europeans and Americans.

The making of a champion

Obiena’s rise was not without pressure. At the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium, all eyes were on him as the world No. 2-ranked vaulter, fresh from silver finishes at the World Championships and Diamond League Finals. When he failed his first attempt at 5.75 meters, doubts began to creep in. But on his second try, he soared cleanly over the bar, clinching gold and keeping his composure under fire.

He went higher, resetting the Games record at 5.90 meters, erasing the previous 5.70 mark by Japan’s Yamamoto Seito in 2018. Though his attempt at 6.02 meters fell short, it didn’t matter. His performance had already cemented him as Asia’s best.

More than medals

That victory was more than a number on the scoreboard. It was a milestone for Philippine sports. His alma mater, Chiang Kai-shek College, welcomed him home with a 10-million-peso incentive from Filipino-Chinese benefactors. This recognition not only celebrated the gold medal but also the pride he brought to the nation.

For Obiena, the triumph was another chapter in a journey marked by resilience, discipline, and belief. He has competed against Swedish superstar Mondo Duplantis. He showed Filipinos can redefine what’s possible in athletics.

A symbol of hope

Obiena’s leap was not just for himself. It was for every Filipino athlete chasing a dream. His golden moment in Hangzhou proved that with persistence, excellence can come from places the world least expects.

In the Philippine sports scene, EJ Obiena will always be remembered as the man who soared above the bar and carried a nation with him. [F]

via Benedict Nipas, Associate Sports Editor