The Philippines’ EJ Obiena competes during the men’s pole vault event of the Silesia Diamond League athletics meeting in Chorzow, Poland, on August 25, 2024. (Photo by Sergei GAPON / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — EJ Obiena slid to the No. 4 in the World Athletics for pole vault to end 2024.
Obiena slipped from third to fourth pole vaulter in the world after the latest rankings were released on December 31.
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Mondo Duplantis of Sweden, who ruled the Paris Olympics 2024, remained on top with a score of 1,625 points.
American Sam Kendricks claimed World No.2 with 1,453 points, while Greek Emmanouil Karalis rose to No.3 with 1,426 points. Both made the podium at the Paris Olympics.
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Obiena ended up fourth with 1,409 points. He narrowly missed the podium in the recent Olympic Games.
Obiena posted on Instagram saying he’s ready for 2025.
He is currently recovering from a nagging back injury, which sidelined him from the Diamond League.
During his break, Obiena headlined the opening of the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium — the country’s first-ever pole-vaulting facility in Ilocos.