The Philippines’ Ernest John Obiena reacts as he competes in the men’s pole vault event during the men’s one hour race during the IAAF Diamond League “Memorial Van Damme” athletics meeting at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on September 2, 2022. AFP
Ernest John Obiena’s season hasn’t ended yet, but regardless of his output in the last meet of the year, the world’s No. 3 pole vaulter has already carved a niche for himself.
Obiena will close out season 2022 in the Golden Fly in Liechtenstein on Sunday already with four gold medals after six tournaments, with his bewildering upset of Olympic champion and world record-holder Mondo Duplantis of Sweden bringing it up to superlative levels.
“A few more competitions before we call it a season. Let’s keep pushing and keep fighting,’’ said Obiena.
The Filipino vault hero removed the cloak of invincibility that sheltered Duplantis for so long.
It happened on a big stage for the event—the International Amateur Athletic Federation Diamond League Memorial Van Damme in Brussels, Belgium where Obiena sailed over 5.91 meters.
Duplantis strangely couldn’t hurdle 5.81m, unimaginable for someone who could clear six meters even on a bad day.
“I made a core memory with my first Diamond Athletics win,’’ said Obiena.
Besides the four golds, the Tokyo Olympian who also owns the Asian record, got a silver in the ISTAF Berlin meet last weekend and a bronze in the Athletissima held in Lausanne behind Duplantis.
Obiena established his existing record of 5.94m in the World Athletics Championships in Oregon last month where he won a historic bronze medal, the first podium finish for the country in global track and field.