The Philippines’ champion pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena opened his outdoor season with a gold medal in the Folksam Athletics Grand Prix in Gothenburg, Sweden, boosting his preparations for the Tokyo Olympics.
Obiena covered a height of 5.70 meters on his first attempt, beating Brazilian Olympic gold medalist Thiago Braz’s 5.65m, on his way to the top of the podium in the men’s pole vault final event held on June 2, 2021 (June 3, Philippine time).
“A great start to the 2021 Outdoor season!” EJ Obiena wrote on his Facebook account.
The Filipino pole vault champion had earlier won his first gold medal against Braz and other Olympic medalists at the 59th Ostrava Golden Spike tilt held in the Czech Republic in 2020.
Obiena is maintaining his rank as the world’s Top 10 pole vaulter, the only Asian and Filipino in the World Athletics ranking released on May 31, 2021.
EJ Obiena is the Philippines’ first Tokyo Olympics qualifier and will be joined by fellow national athletes gymnast Carlos Yulo, boxers Eumir Marcial, Irish Magno, Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, rower Cris Nievarez, and karateka Kurt Barbosa in the Summer Olympic Games scheduled in Tokyo this year.
SEND CONGRATULATIONS in the comments below to the Philippines’ champion pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena for winning a gold medal in the Folksam Athletics Grand Prix in Gothenburg, Sweden, as he continues to boost his preparations for the Tokyo Olympics.
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