EJ Obiena during the Oslo Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway. – Diamond League Athletics vs EJ Obiena Instagram
MANILA, Philippines—Just a few months before the Paris Olympics 2024, EJ Obiena proved his mettle in the Oslo Bislett Games on Friday (Manila time) with a silver finish in Norway.
After absorbing a tough seventh-place finish in the Ostrava Golden Spike due to pole problems, the Filipino pole vaulter bounced back in a huge way by gaining silver in the Norway competition just 72 hours after the mishap.
Obiena outlasted nine competitors in the competition and registered 5.72 meters for the second place finish. He finished tied with Greek pole vaulter Emmanouil Karalis.
READ: EJ Obiena gets Paris Olympics boost with LA Grand Prix gold
But the victory wasn’t flawless as he, again, had to endure broken pole problems.
“Another pole broken and it’s not even on the brighter side of things,” Obiena wrote in an Instagram post.
“Very thankful that I am not hurt and I live to fight another day. I’m taking this with a bit of humor but in all honesty, this is not funny at all.”
READ: The difference between EJ Obiena and Mondo Duplantis
United States bet KC Lightfoot cleared 5.82 meters to win the entire event.
Up next for the Paris-bound athlete is the Bauhaus-Galan leg of the Diamond League in Stockholm, Sweden.