EJ Obiena can quench athletics’ 88-year thirst for Olympics medal

FILE–Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena is set to begin his Paris Olympics 2024 campaign.

SCHEDULE: Team Philippines at Paris Olympics 2024

If EJ Obiena lives up to his billing and produces a podium finish in the Paris Olympics, he will put an end to the country’s decades-long wait for a medal in athletics.

Obiena can snuff out an 88-year drought should he come up with a worthy performance in the men’s vault event which starts with Saturday’s qualification.

It was back in 1936 when Miguel White picked up a bronze in the men’s 400-meter hurdles of the Games held in Berlin.

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Four years earlier in Los Angeles saw Simeon Toribio claim the Philippines’ first medal in athletics, getting a bronze in men’s high jump.

No one, not even iconic names like Mona Sulaiman, Lydia de Vega and Elma Muros or veteran internationalists like Marestella Torres, Eduardo Buevanista or Eric Cray have come close since those prewar achievements. Obiena can join a rare company if he meets lofty expectations in Paris.

One thing Obiena can likely surpass is his 11th-place finish three years ago in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo edition, where the University of Santo Tomas product made his debut.

Mondo Duplantis, who was above and beyond Obiena and his fellow foes, handily won the event in Japan.

The months and years between Tokyo and Paris saw Obiena work his way to be in a position to give Duplantis a run for his money, and is currently ranked second in the world rankings.

Initial target

Whether that translates into something positive will be finally known, with Obiena’s first goal is to either be among the best 12 bets or meet the qualification grade of 5.80 meters to make the final.

Toribio actually came close to winning a medal in 1928 in Amsterdam but placed fourth behind winner Bob King, fellow American Ben Hedges and Frenchman Claude Menard.

But 1932 saw Toribio atone for his missed medal opportunity after clearing 1.97 meters at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Canadian Duncan McNaughton won the gold with American Bob Van Osdel taking silver.

It was one of three bronzes the Philippines took that year, along with boxer Jose Villanueva and swimmer Teofilo Yldefonso.

White made it to the final after winning his quarterfinal heat and placing second in his semifinal heat. He got the bronze in 52.8 seconds, behind American Glenn Hardin (52.4) and Canadian John Loaring (52.7).

It was the Philippines’ last medal before boxer Anthony Villanueva had a silver in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.