EJ Obiena opens redemption season with bronze in Germany

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino pole vault star EJ Obiena got off a promising start to his 2026 campaign.

Obiena bagged bronze in the ISTAF Indoor Dusseldorf in Germany on Saturday, January 24, as he began his redemption season following a roller-coaster 2025 that saw him fall out of the world top 10.

He cleared 5.65 meters to finish behind Menno Vloon of the Netherlands and Sam Kendricks of the United States in the eight-man competition.

Vloon vaulted 5.75m for the gold, while Kendricks — a two-time Olympic medalist — settled for silver with 5.70m.

Obiena is coming off what he described as his “worst year” as he dropped to world No. 11 after being ranked as high as No. 2, only behind two-time Olympic champion and world record holder Armand Duplantis of Sweden.

The only Asian member of the six-meter club, Obiena cleared no higher than 5.80m in 2025.

But Obiena ended the past year in style with back-to-back golden finishes, ruling his home event, the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge, and capturing his fourth consecutive title in the Southeast Asian Games.

“I’m in a good path,” Obiena said after his SEA Games triumph in Bangkok, Thailand, in December. “I’m in a much better space. I’m healthier.” – Rappler.com