Pole vaulters EJ Obiena and Emmanouil Karalis after the Lausanne Diamond League competition. –INSTAGRAM/EJ OBIENA
MANILA, Philippines—From rivals to a budding “bromance.”
Team Philippines’ pole vaulter EJ Obiena and Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis, rivals for a podium finish in the Paris Olympics 2024, have become post-meet companions.
After an intense competition at Lausanne Diamond League, the first meet for the top pole vaulters after the Summer Games, Obiena and Karalis shared a meal post-competition–much to the delight of fans.
READ: EJ Obiena apologizes for missing out on Paris Olympics medal
The two pole vaulters posted photo dumps of their Lausanne trip that included pictures of them competing in the Diamond League… and photos of Obiena and Karalis sitting opposite each other during a meal.
“We had the most romantic date,” wrote Karalis on Obiena’s post.
“Great lunch, good walk, nice drinks and to cap it with amazing athletics!” replied EJ.
Karalis won the bronze in the men’s pole vault competition, edging the Filipino pole vaulter by countback in a heartbreaking missed shot at the podium for Obiena.
In Paris, the two also shared a heartwarming moment after ending the pole vault competition at Stade de France with a tight hug.
In Switzerland, though, the Filipino managed to snag the bronze along with Sondre Guttormsen of Norway and Kurtis Marschall of Australia after they all cleared 5.82 meters.
Karalis, meanwhile, finished out of the in Lausanne at sixth place.