Champion pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena has set new records for both Asia and the Philippines on his way to ruling the 17th Golden Roof Challenge in Innsbruck, Austria.
The country’s national athlete clinched the gold medal by clearing 5.93 meters on his third attempt in the men’s pole vault event on September 11, 2021 (September 12, Philippine time).
Obiena broke the Asian record of 5.92m held by Kazakhstan’s Igor Potapovich for 23 years.
The 25-year-old Filipino Olympian also shattered his personal best and Philippine national record of 5.91m which he earlier set in August with a silver medal at the Diamond League in Paris.
“I wanted this one so bad. I couldn’t have done it without all of you guys, every single one…thank you very much,” EJ Obiena told the cheering crowd in Austria.
The World No. 5 pole vaulter and Asian record holder had also won gold medals in 2021 at the PSD Bank Indoor Meeting in Dortmund, Germany, and the Taby Stav Gala Street Pole Vault competition in Sweden.
SEND CONGRATULATIONS in the comments below to the Philippines’ champion pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena for setting a new national and Asian record and WATCH his gold-winning performance in the 17th Golden Roof Challenge in Innsbruck, Austria here!
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