Filipino pole vault ace EJ Obiena continues to make the nation proud with his commanding performances against top-tier rivals. Every remarkable leap made him secure high finishes in each competition he participated in during the early months of 2026.
Tipping Off 2026 with German Podiums
Obiena already started strong on January 24 as he vaulted 5.65 meters at the ISTAF Indoor Düsseldorf 2026 meet in Düsseldorf, Germany, which led him to clinch the bronze medal. He cleared 5.65 meters but faltered at 5.70 meters, failing in three attempts that placed him in third.
The gold medal went to Menno Vloon of the Netherlands after clearing 5.75 meters. American pole vaulter Sam Kendricks, with a record of 5.70 meters, took the silver medal.
On January 28, he soared higher and went for the gold at the International Springer-Meeting in Cottbus, Germany. He and Menno Vloon were declared joint winners, sharing the gold with a tied record of 5.77 meters. Sam Kendricks of the USA took home the bronze medal after finishing in third place in the competition.
Steady Heights on the Year’s Second Stretch
With a successful 5.70-meter vault in one attempt, Obiena struck his first-ever gold medal at the 12th Asian Indoor Championships held in Tianjin, China, on February 7. This victory completed his major Asian title collection, making him the current titleholder of all Asian pole vault competitions simultaneously.
He joined the Orlen Copernicus Cup held on February 22 in Torun, Poland. Despite delivering a competitive performance, he concluded the meet out of the medal spots after three unsuccessful tries on 5.75 meters. He finished sixth with a clearance of 5.65 meters.
Norway’s Sondre Guttormsen won gold at 5.85 meters, while Christopher Nielsen from the United States earned silver at 5.80 meters in the pole vault competition.
The sixth-place finish brought a valuable experience for Obiena, which highlighted his strong showing on the world stage. Overall, these wins added another milestone for the Filipino athlete, keeping a strong momentum for more competitions ahead.