Filipino pole vault titan Ernest John “EJ” Obiena has made history again by becoming the first Filipino athlete to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. This remarkable feat came after an outstanding silver finish at the Bauhaus-Galan Stockholm Diamond League on Sunday, July 2, 2023 (Monday, July 3 PST).
The 27-year-old Tondo, Manila native soared over the entry standard of 5.82 meters in the Stockholm leg of the Diamond League’s best invitational athletics meetings in the world. Obiena, despite facing a foul on his first attempt, secured his Olympic spot on the second attempt, echoing his accomplishment four years ago when he became the first Filipino to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Obiena first cleared 5.62m and 5.72m before delivering the Olympic standard.
Bauhaus-Galan Stockholm Diamond League Men’s Pole Vault Scoresheet here:
World No. 3 pole vaulter EJ Obiena and Swedish home favorite Armand Duplantis were the only pole vaulters to book an Olympic berth in the tournament. Duplantis, the current world record holder, cleared a striking 6.05 meters. Obiena and Duplantis are the first of only 32 male pole vaulters globally who will get the chance to compete in the upcoming Paris Olympics.
Bauhaus-Galan Stockholm Diamond League Men’s Pole Vault Medalists here:
The Philippines' pole vault champion EJ Obiena has qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics after clearing 5.82 meters and securing a silver finish at the Bauhaus-Galan Stockholm Diamond League on Sunday (Monday PST) @ejobienapv @bauhausgalan @Olympics #ParisOlympics #Filipino https://t.co/usd1xOalWs
— Angie Quadra Balibay (@AngieQBalibay) July 3, 2023
Obiena is blazing hot this season with another milestone as the first Asian athlete to join the prestigious pole vault six-meter club of only 28 elite players who have breached the mark, solidifying his place in pole vaulting history. The Filipino vaulting champion has consistently maintained his impressive medal streak, securing podium finishes in all of his previous five meets of the outdoor season.
His most recent accomplishment was clinching bronze at the Ostrava Golden Spike in the Czech Republic on June 27, 2023. Obiena managed a bronze-winning leap of 5.90m, finishing behind Duplantis and Australia’s Kurtis Marschall who cleared the same height as Obiena but claimed the silver on attempts countback.
WATCH EJ Obiena’s 5.90m vault here:
As he prepares for the forthcoming Paris Olympics, Obiena is also gearing up for his upcoming events at the Asian Athletics Championships in Pattaya, Thailand, set from July 12 to 16, and the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, from September 23 to October 8.
Obiena’s monumental success continues to place the Philippines on the global stage and inspire aspiring athletes. Fans and supporters can’t help but anticipate how high he’ll fly in Paris in 2024. Stay tuned as we bring you the latest updates on Obiena’s Olympic journey.
WATCH EJ Obiena clear the Olympics Standard vault of 5.82m which actually reached 5.96m here:
WATCH EJ Obiena clear the Olympic Standard of 5.82 meters and claim the silver at the Bauhaus-Galan Stockholm Diamond League on Sunday, July 2, 2023 (Monday, July 2 PST) @ejobienapv @BAUHAUSGALAN @Diamond_League https://t.co/zx000dIlYK
— Angie Quadra Balibay (@AngieQBalibay) July 3, 2023
SEND CONGRATULATIONS in the comments below to EJ Obiena, the first Filipino qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympics!
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