Breaking records and setting the bars high.
The Filipino Olympian pole vaulter, EJ Obiena claims his second straight gold medal – his first award this 2024 season, after winning in the International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISAF) Indoor Berlin tilt in Germany last Friday, February 23 (German time).
Obiena cleared 5.93 meters, ousting USA’s Olen Tray Oates who reached 5.75 meters, and third placer Robert Sobera of Poland with 5.66 meters.
Breaking the indoor and outdoor records, Obiena displaced Kazakhstan’s Igor Potapovich’s record with 5.92 meters in 1998.
Hitting the Asian record repeatedly, the Filipino pole vaulter raised the stand to 6.00 meters after surpassing the six-meter Bergen Jump Challenge 2023 in Norway.
According to Obiena, this win is a good result after his terrible training before the competition.
“The progress is not bad, I am happy, I have more in the tank, I would love to jump over six meters. If it happens, it happens. If not I will move on," he said.
After his historic performance, the world’s No. 2 pole vaulter has now secured a slot in the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, United Kingdom, on March 3, 2024, and is building up for a bigger and much-anticipated competition.