EJ Obiena announced a premature end to his 2024 season due to a stress fracture in his spine, expressing hope for a full recovery and a strong return in the 2025 indoor season.
Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena has announced an early end to his 2024 season due to his lingering back injury.
In a heartfelt post on Instagram, Obiena, who had planned to compete in the ISTAF Berlin, Zurich Diamond League, and the Diamond League Final, revealed that a recurring back issue has culminated in a serious diagnosis.
“During the Silesia Diamond League this past weekend, the same back pain that has bothered me all season flared up,” Obiena wrote. “Due to the continual spasms, I couldn’t finish my last few attempts.”
After consulting with his doctor in Italy, an MRI and subsequent CAT scan confirmed that the 28-year-old Pinoy pole vaulter is dealing with a stress fracture in his L5 vertebra.
Obiena is coming off a heartbreaking fourth-place finish in the Olympic Games Paris 2024. He then bounced back after ending joint third at the Lausanne Diamond League before finishing fifth in the Silesia leg of the Wanda Diamond League.
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Obiena’s decision to step away from the remainder of the season, including the upcoming Philippines Pole Vault competition he set up for September 20, was driven by the need to prevent further injury.
The Filipino Olympian, currently ranked world no. 3, has been advised to take a four-week break to heal, hoping to return pain-free and prepared for the 2025 indoor season.
Nonetheless, Obiena remained positive and focused on the future.
“I have always kept faith and kept looking to the positives of any situation,” said Obiena. “Competing in the Olympics with a spinal fracture was a risk I am willing to take, but now I need to make decisions with my head, not my emotions.”
Obiena expressed his gratitude for the support he has received and promised to return even stronger.
“I’m going to honor my promise: ‘You’ll see more of me, and the Philippine flag will be raised on a global scale.’ It will simply have to wait a bit longer,” Obiena concluded.