EJ Obiena makes history with bronze medal at World Athletics Championships

Bronze medalist EJ of Team Philippines poses during the medal ceremony for the Men’s Pole Vault on day ten of the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 at Hayward Field on July 24, 2022 in Eugene, Oregon. Steph Chambers/Getty Images/AFP

MANILA, Philippines—EJ Obiena was far from satisfied when he made the pole vault final at the World Athletics Championships.

Determined to go further, Obiena sealed his place in history after winning the bronze medal at the World Athletics Championships Monday (Manila time) at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, United States.

Obiena reset the Asian record and his personal best with a 5.94-meter clearance on his second try to become the first Filipino to make the podium on the world championship stage.

“This was something I really wanted but I do not know if I was expecting it,” Obiena said. “I definitely did not expect that I would jump that high. And I would not think that it would actually take that high to win a medal.”

Obiena tried his luck at 6.00m but he couldn’t get off the ground on all of his three attempts.

EJ Obiena of Team Philippines competes in the Men’s Pole Vault final on day ten of the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 at Hayward Field on July 24, 2022 in Eugene, Oregon. Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP 

The 26-year-old Obiena has been on a roll this year having won six gold medals. Before the worlds, Obiena was coming off a golden performance in the Jump and Fly meet in Germany.

World record holder Mondo Duplantis of Sweden unsurprisingly took home the gold while home bet Chris Nilsen seized the silver via countback.

Duplantis was the only competitor to reach 6.00m and went on to break the world record anew at 6.21m.

Brazilian star Thiago Braz, the 2016 Olympic champion and training partner of Obiena, also fell short on his one-and-done attempt at 6.00m, leaving the competition with only three men remaining. With report from Reuters

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