By NIKOLE JAVIER
Although it was not what he had hoped for, EJ Obiena still proved to everyone he has the grit and resilience to bounce back from a past heartbreak.
Putting his disastrous journey in the Czech Republic behind, Obiena vaulted and soared like he used to do to clinch the silver medal in the Diamond League in Oslo, Norway on Friday, May 31.
The world No. 2 pole vaulter cleared 5.72m to finish in joint second with Emmanouil Karalis of Greece.
Last Tuesday, Obiena encountered multiple issues with his pole which ended up breaking as he was only able to make his opening bar in the Ostrava Golden Spike that saw him eventually settle in seventh – failing to duplicate his bronze medal last year in the same event.
There, Obiena could only soar past 5.52m, his second lowest clearance in nearly two years following a previous career-low of 5.45m in the Gyulai Istvan Memorial in Hungary in 2022.
That event was expectedly ruled by long-time rival Armand “Mondo” Duplantis. The world and Olympic champion did not compete in the Oslo event.
Obiena is using the Diamond League to fine-tune his form for the coming Paris Olympics as he intends to redeem himself from a disappointing showing in the Tokyo Games three years back.
Interestingly, the Asian record holder had another one his poles break in Oslo, only this time American KC Lightfoot, who captured the gold medal in 5.81m, generously lent his pole to Obiena.
Obiena also had Dutch man Menno Vloon to thank in his conquest after getting a hand from his competitors.
Obiena expressed his gratefulness to the two players in his official Facebook account, saying: “Another pole broken and it’s not even… On the brighter side of things, thanks to [Menno Vloon] and [KC Lightfoot] for lending me poles to jump on,” he added.
“Greatly appreciate it, gentlemen. Now, we try to look for poles to use in Bauhaus-Galan.”
The 28-year-old pole vaulter ruled the 2024 Los Angeles Grand Prix before his nightmarish show in the 63rd Ostrava Golden Spike. In LA, he cleared 5.80m.
As Obiena concludes the season-opening Diamond League, he sets his sights on Bauhaus Galan in Stockholm.
