EJ Obiena finished in fourth place after a grind-out pole vault finale in the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
By all intents and purposes, EJ Obiena’s Paris 2024 finish of fourth place was a stark improvement of his Tokyo 2020 result where he landed in 11th.
But the jump didn’t matter for Obiena, as both Paris 2024 and Tokyo 2020 ended with no Olympic medal.
“I apologize, I promised I’m gonna go back after Tokyo and do better. I did, but I would say it didn’t change in my book,” an emotional Obiena said as he wrapped up his second Olympics stint.
“I came up short, I’m sorry. I apologize for it.”
EJ’s Paris 2024 finale started with promise, as save for his minor stumble at 5.80 meters, the world’s no. 2 pole vaulter cleared 5.50m, 5.70m, 5.85m, and 5.90m all on his first attempts.
The deciding factor for his medal chase ended up being at 5.95 meters.
Obiena had good height for his first attempt at 5.95m but clipped the bar on the way down. He also just missed his second try at the same height.
With four contenders remaining, EJ had a decision to make for his last jump but opted to stay at 5.95 meters, as a clearance would have guaranteed at least a bronze.
Obiena failed on his final jump.
“It’s painful. I missed a medal by one jump and it wasn’t far. Disappointed, definitely,” he said.
“It’s the same, I still fell short. I think this one, if not [more] painful maybe just as much. I’m thankful that I got to the final, but at the same time I’m disappointed. It’s the same height and I missed it by one attempt. One attempt was an Olympic medal,” Obiena added, reflecting on his finishes from his two Olympic campaigns.
Bronze medalist Emmanouil Karalis of Greece had a final clearance of 5.90 meters, the same as Obiena.
And like EJ, Karalis also missed his first attempt at 5.95 meters. The Greek opted to skip his remaining two attempts at 5.95m, and later was way off in his two attempts to clear 6.0 meters.
Team USA’s Sam Kendricks who got silver cleared 5.95 meters on his first try, and was unsuccessful at 6.0 meters as well.
“I think it’s just consistency overall.” EJ said on the struggles to clear a height in Paris 2024 that he normally would have. “I missed one attempt and that was the point of a medal to a non-medalist. Sports is beautiful but also brutal, I understand that.”
“Going in, consistency I’m lacking. I felt I needed a little bit more time, but it’s the Olympics and it’s not gonna wait for anybody. Even with the fourth place, I’ve done everything I can. I’m proud of the effort of my team, myself, and everybody that made this possible. But it doesn’t make it less painful.”
(With reports from Boom Gonzalez/Cignal)