FILE–Filipino pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena. (Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines—Despite already being one of the best pole vaulters in the world, EJ Obiena knows he still has a long way to go in mastering his craft.
Obiena, the world No. 3, booked his ticket to next year’s Paris Games after clearing the Olympic standard of 5.82 meters at the Bauhaus Galan in Stockholm, Sweden on Monday.
His Olympic qualification came just less than a month after he reset the Asian record with a six-meter breakthrough at the Bergen Jump Challenge in Norway.
Still, checking off one feat after another doesn’t slow down Obiena, who has an insatiable desire for glory.
“We continue THE WORK as we still have lots to do. Made some rookie mistakes yesterday. It just shows I am still a student of the game,” Obiena posted on Instagram on Monday.
The 27-year-old Obiena captured the silver medal in Stockholm behind world record holder and home bet Mondo Duplantis, who hurdled 6.05m for the gold.
Obiena became the first Filipino to secure an Olympic berth in the French capital.
He was also the first Filipino to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Games before it was pushed back a year later due to the pandemic.