He successfully clinched the country’s third gold medal in the ongoing continental games.
Fresh from his successful stint in the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya in Japan, Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena took to social media to express how he feels to have won the coveted top prize in the men’s pole vault final on Tuesday, September 29.
The 30-year-old wrote in his post, where he included a clip of his winning and record-smashing jump, “As athletes, we live in these moments. Moments that makes us overthink, stresses us, adrenaline pumping pressure on our backs and sometimes… just sometimes pure joy.”
“I take these moments as a blessing. This is what keeps me going back for more,” he added.
EJ then expressed his thanks to his for “making sure” that he is “ready to seize this opportunity.”
The athlete also thanked Filipinos, all more than 110 million around the world, for also helping these moments for him.
“To all of the 110 million Filipinos, MARAMING SALAMAT po for making these moments possible. Competing is one thing but competing for something greater, for the Philippines, is a privilege that I do not take lightly.”
“Para sa Bayan,” he concluded his message.
During Tuesday’s event, EJ secured the gold medal after successfully going above the four different heights. The pole vaulter even upped the ante in the finale as he smashed his own record that he did in the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games in China by reaching 5.91 meters.
Aside from leading in the Asian Games, Obiena is also a two-time defending champion and record holder at the Asian Athletics Championships, having earner three gold medals and one nronze at the Asian Championships.
He also has well as four gold medals at the Southeast Asian Games, where he is also a record-holder after clearing 5.65 meters.