Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena has added another impressive achievement to his record.
Competing in the World Athletics Championships at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary, on Sunday, August 27 (Manila time), EJ Obiena soared to a silver medal.
He matched his personal best by clearing a height of 6.0 meters on his second attempt.
This not only secured him the silver medal but also set a new Asian record. This victory is significant as it marks the first time the Philippines has won a silver medal in this global competition.
This isn't Obiena's first taste of success on the world stage. He had previously won a bronze medal in the World Championships held in Eugene, Oregon.
During the Budapest Championships, Obiena aimed to set even higher standards for himself and the region, but his attempts to clear the heights of 6.05 meters and 6.10 meters didn't go as planned.
He gave it his all, trying three times—once at 6.05 meters and twice at 6.10 meters—but couldn't quite make it over.
Taking to Facebook on the morning of August 28, Obiena expressed his gratitude to his fans and dedicated his victory to the entire Filipino community.
With this remarkable silver medal win, Obiena's consistency shines through, as he has now secured a top-three finish in 11 consecutive competitions this season.
The gold medal in the event was claimed by Armand Duplantis, who cleared an impressive height of 6.10 meters, securing his second consecutive world title.
Sharing the bronze medal were Kurtis Marschall from Australia and Christopher Nilsen from the United States, both successfully clearing the bar at 5.95 meters.
Looking back at the 2022 world championships, Obiena had also clinched a bronze medal with a successful clearance at 5.94 meters.
