By REYNALD MAGALLON
Filipino pole vault star EJ Obiena has been named into the 2023 The Outstanding Young Men Awards.
Obiena joined nine other awardees who have demonstrated unparalleled commitment, innovation, and leadership in their respective fields, embodying the spirit of positive change and progress.
The World No. 2 pole vaulter was hailed for his global excellence in sports highlighted by numerous gold medals and record-breaking feats last year.
The 28-year-old Tondo native soared to greater heights as he stamped his class as Asia’s undisputed pole vault king with gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games and Asian Athletics Championship.
Obiena plucked his third-straight gold in the SEA games and reset the tournament record for also the third-consecutive time with a 5.65 meters clearance.
He further raised the bar in the continental level after clearing 5.9m in the Asian Games and 5.91m in the Asian Athletics.
Obiena also catapulted to the world best status when he joined the 6-meters club – an elite company that featured few pole vaulters who managed to clear the bar at 6-meters.
He made the feat during Bergen Jump Challenge in Norway, becoming the first and only Asian to ever achieve it.
Obiena was also the first Filipino to punch his ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics after clearing the 5.82m qualifying mark in the Stockholm Diamond League-Bauhaus Galan in Sweden
