FEATURE
Advocates Philippines
Who Is EJ Obiena?
Photo credit: EJ Obiena
Ernest John "EJ" Uy Obiena is a Filipino pole vaulter who has made significant contributions to Philippine pole vaulting history. Born and raised in Tondo, Manila, Obiena has established himself as a world-class athlete in the sport.
Obiena's journey in pole vaulting began at a young age of eight, although he initially focused on hurdles. As he progressed in the sport, he decided to return to pole vaulting, and his dedication and talent quickly became evident. At just 18 years old, he surpassed the national record set by Edward Lasquete during the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, clearing 5.01 meters in 2014. He continued to break his own records throughout the years, achieving impressive heights and raising the bar for Philippine pole vaulting.
In 2015, Obiena achieved a clearance of 5.25 meters during the Southeast Asia Games, earning him a silver medal. The following year, despite facing challenges with his equipment, he secured a gold medal in the 2016 Philippine National Games Finals in Lingayen, Pangasinan, after reaching a height of 5.47 meters.
Obiena's success wasn't limited to national competitions; he also excelled on the international stage. In 2019, he won gold medals in various events, including the Summer Universiade, the Asian Athletics Championships, and the Southeast Asian Games. Notably, his 5.76-meter clearance at the Summer Universiade set a new national record. He also achieved a 5.81-meter jump at a tournament in Chiara, Italy, breaking yet another national record and earning a qualifying spot for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Throughout his career, Obiena's dedication to the sport has led him to seek opportunities to improve his skills. He had the chance to train in Italy under the guidance of Vitaly Petrov, the previous coach of Ukrainian pole vault legend Sergey Bubka. Such training has undoubtedly contributed to his outstanding performance and continuous improvement.
As of September 2021, Obiena's personal best stands at an impressive 5.93 meters, which he achieved at the International Golden Roof Challenge in Innsbruck, Austria. This height not only set a new Asian record in pole vaulting but also solidified his position as one of the top athletes in the world in this discipline.
As of July 20, 2023, He owns the number two spot on the World Ranking of Pole Vaulters.
Obiena's journey in pole vaulting began at a young age of eight, although he initially focused on hurdles. As he progressed in the sport, he decided to return to pole vaulting, and his dedication and talent quickly became evident. At just 18 years old, he surpassed the national record set by Edward Lasquete during the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, clearing 5.01 meters in 2014. He continued to break his own records throughout the years, achieving impressive heights and raising the bar for Philippine pole vaulting.
In 2015, Obiena achieved a clearance of 5.25 meters during the Southeast Asia Games, earning him a silver medal. The following year, despite facing challenges with his equipment, he secured a gold medal in the 2016 Philippine National Games Finals in Lingayen, Pangasinan, after reaching a height of 5.47 meters.
Obiena's success wasn't limited to national competitions; he also excelled on the international stage. In 2019, he won gold medals in various events, including the Summer Universiade, the Asian Athletics Championships, and the Southeast Asian Games. Notably, his 5.76-meter clearance at the Summer Universiade set a new national record. He also achieved a 5.81-meter jump at a tournament in Chiara, Italy, breaking yet another national record and earning a qualifying spot for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Throughout his career, Obiena's dedication to the sport has led him to seek opportunities to improve his skills. He had the chance to train in Italy under the guidance of Vitaly Petrov, the previous coach of Ukrainian pole vault legend Sergey Bubka. Such training has undoubtedly contributed to his outstanding performance and continuous improvement.
As of September 2021, Obiena's personal best stands at an impressive 5.93 meters, which he achieved at the International Golden Roof Challenge in Innsbruck, Austria. This height not only set a new Asian record in pole vaulting but also solidified his position as one of the top athletes in the world in this discipline.
As of July 20, 2023, He owns the number two spot on the World Ranking of Pole Vaulters.
Jul 20, 2023
