Going into Paris 2024, EJ Obiena had been facing a lot of challenges. It didn't stop the pole vaulter from reaching fourth place, but it was one jump short of the Olympic podium.
What's next for EJ Obiena?
It's the question on a lot of people's minds after his heartbreak in Paris. Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena went to France with an aim to reach the stars.
For the world no. 2 pole vaulter, the first order of business is crystal clear: to get healthy.
“I think right now my first step is really to make sure that I am physically okay. I’m on pain meds. I’m into a hell of a lot of inflammatory [medicines],’ Obiena revealed in the aftermath of his fourth place finish in the men’s pole vault finals of the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Obiena narrowly missed out on a podium finish in Paris, clearing 5.90 meters but missed all of his three tries at 5.95 meters. He lost the bronze to Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis, by virtue of a better record.
[ALSO READ: No medal for EJ Obiena as he finishes 4th in Paris 2024 pole vault]
World no. 1 Armand "Mondo" Duplantis of Sweden defended his title and did so in an epic way--first by topping Thiago Braz's Olympic record of 6.03m by clearing 6.10m.
He then shattered his own world record of 6.24m by clearing 6.25m on his third attempt.
World no. 3 Sam Kendricks of the United States bagged a silver medal this time in Paris with a 5.95m clearance.
In the weeks leading up to Paris 2024, the world no. 2 pole vaulter openly shared his struggles with physical problems, describing his road to this Olympics as “bumpy” and has been dealing with “physical problems” since April.
Yet, when it mattered most, the 28-year-old leaper stepped onto the field for qualifications seemingly worry-free.
Obiena shrugged off a shaky start--a near elimination--to reach the final 12.
[ALSO READ: World no. 2 EJ Obiena survives early scare, qualifies for finals of men's pole vault in Paris 2024]
"Sorry po sa mga napakaba ko," he posted on social media after the match.
[ALSO READ: 'Sorry sa mga napakaba ko' | EJ Obiena apologizes, thanks supporters after tense start to Paris 2024 campaign]
His issues seemingly didn't bother him.
"I'm in the final. What is there for us to discuss, right?" he said when asked about it after the qualifications, chuckling.
Fast forward to the finals, and Obiena was right there for medal contention. All he needed to do was clear 5.95m. His personal best was 6.00m. He could have.
But on this day, he couldn't.
As Kendricks and Duplantis continued to compete in the late stages of the final, Obiena was seen sitting on the bench--not watching the vaults--staring at some distance away.
The only Asian member of the elite six-meter club bares he’ll take the moment to reflect on his plans moving forward.
"We’ll see. I talk to my team. I’ll talk to Vitaly [Petrov]. And of course, I’ll reflect on myself on what I’m gonna do in the next few weeks. The season’s not yet over. I’ll still have points to defend if I feel like I should or I could [compete],” Obiena said.
"We’ll see. We’ll take it one day at a time,“ he added.
Obiena had already made a big leap from finishing 11th in Tokyo 2020 to finishing fourth in Paris 2024. But for him, it's the same thing--he didn't reach the podium.
Winning an Olympic medal was the ultimate goal. And for the second straight Olympics, it just wasn’t on the cards for Obiena.
[ALSO READ: EJ Obiena apologizes after "painful" finish results in barely missing Olympic medal for Paris 2024]
Can he vault for the stars in Los Angeles 2028? One can only hope he would.
[With reports from Boom Gonzalez/Cignal TV, One Sports]