Back at full strength, top Pinoy pole vaulter EJ Obiena is bracing for more success this 2025.
EJ Obiena slipped to the no. 4 spot in the latest World Athletics world rankings for pole vault.
Obiena dropped one place down after racking up 1409 points to end 2024, with two-time Olympic gold medalist Armand Duplantis of Sweden (1625) retaining the top spot.
[ALSO READ: No. 1 Armand Duplantis smashes Olympic and world records on his way to second straight gold medal]
Paris 2024 silver and bronze medalists Sam Kendricks of the United States and Greek leaper Emmanouill Karalis occupied the second and third places respectively with 1,453 and 1,426 points respectively.
Last year, Obiena fell short of a podium finish in the Olympic Games Paris 2024, finishing fourth behind Duplantis, Kendricks, and Karalis.
He admitted that he was dealing with pain in his spine throughout the competition that affected his preparation and performance in the event.
[ALSO READ: “I couldn't move right away” | EJ Obiena reveals details on spine injury prior to Paris 2024 campaign]
But Obiena announced last October 2024 that he is fully recovered from the said injury and took the time away from play to organize pole vault pits.
[ALSO READ: Comeback in 2025: EJ Obiena announces full recovery from lower back injury]
[ALSO READ: Leap of faith: EJ Obiena kicks off pole vault pit initiative in Laoag]
He also expressed his excitement for the 2025 season in hopes of coming back better than ever.
“Ready for you #2025,” Obiena wrote on his social media.