EJ Obiena Advances to Paris Olympics Pole Vault Final Despite Initial Struggles

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MANILA, Philippines— Team Philippines’ EJ Obiena overcame a rocky start to secure his place in the men’s pole vault final at the Paris Olympics 2024 on Saturday.


Obiena qualified for his second consecutive Olympic final by clearing a height of 5.75 meters, earning him the seventh overall seed and sixth in Group A. Only the top 12 athletes from the qualifications advanced to the medal round, which is scheduled for August 6 at 1 a.m. Philippine time.


A Challenging Path to Qualification


Obiena faced significant challenges on his way to the final. He, along with Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis and Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis, bypassed the starting height of 5.40 meters, opting to begin their jumps at 5.60 meters.


Despite being ranked No. 2 in the world, Obiena struggled initially, failing to clear the 5.60-meter bar on his first two attempts. With only three tries allowed per height in pole vault, Obiena was one jump away from elimination. Instead of risking a third attempt at 5.60 meters, he decided to move on to the 5.70-meter height and successfully cleared it, keeping his Olympic dreams alive.


Securing the Final Berth


After finding his rhythm, Obiena confidently cleared 5.75 meters, effectively securing his spot in the Final 12. Ten pole vaulters from Group A advanced, while only two from Group B—China’s Bokai Huang and Germany’s Oleg Zernikel—moved on to the final phase.


Joining Obiena in the finals are world No. 1 Mondo Duplantis and world No. 3 Sam Kendricks. Obiena, who finished 11th in the Tokyo Olympics, is now poised to make a strong showing in the finals.


Looking Ahead


As he prepares for the final, Obiena remains focused and determined to bring honor to the Philippines. His journey through the qualifications has demonstrated his resilience and skill, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to his Olympic campaign.


For more updates and live coverage of Team Philippines at the Paris Olympics 2024, follow  us for the latest reports and developments.

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