Obiena vows he will bounce back from Paris heartbreak

MANILA – The nation watched pole vaulter Ernest John "EJ" Obiena came tantalizingly close to an Olympic medal on the wee hours of Tuesday.

He ended up fourth after losing in the countback for at least a bronze due to his three failed attempts to clear 5.95 meters at Stade de France.

Nearly eight hours later, Obiena said reality was sinking in and he was still processing the outcome.

But come back he will.

"The good get up, as they say. I have been knocked down. But I will get back up," Obiena wrote on Facebook.

He admitted though he was still hurting.

"Fourth place is painful to say the least; and in sports with three podium places, perhaps 4th is the harshest place to be," the 24-year-old said. "I am heartbroken that a single failure cost me and cost a nation I so deeply love – the podium."

Despite a marked improvement from 11th place in 2021 Tokyo, the world No. 2 Obiena apologized for the outcome.

"Such is life as the world of competitive sports can be exhilarating at times, and painful at others. I have experienced both and unfortunately today I am on the other side of it!" he said.

On a positive note, he said he is proud of his achievement after all the struggles, including battling with various physical problems since April, which he revealed in a social media post on July 20.

He thanked everyone who has followed, supported and believed in him while he takes it "one day at a time" on what he is going to do next.

"Thank you again for your support and standing by me. I love you all, and we all share a common love and pride for the Philippines," he said.

He congratulated double gold medalist Carlos Yulo for making the Paris Games an Olympics to remember for the Philippines.

"I salute him. I am sorry I didn't join him on the podium," he said.

Meanwhile, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna said the capital city will give a P500,000 incentive to Obiena, who finished high shool in Chiang Kai Shek College in Tondo and took up engineering at University of Santo Tomas in Sampaloc.

"EJ Obiena, despite narrowly missing on a podium finish, has shown extraordinary talent and sportsmanship, achieving a commendable fourth place in the pole vault finals at the 2024 Paris Olympics," Lacuna said in a statement.

"Kinikilala ng Pamahalaang Lungsod ng Maynila ang kanyang pagsusumikap at bibigyan siya ng P500,000 bilang pasasalamat sa kanyang tiyaga at natatanging performance. Ang paglalakbay at mga tagumpay ni EJ ay patuloy na nagbibigay inspirasyon sa maraming batang atleta sa Maynila at sa buong bansa (The city government of Manila will reward him P500,000 in recognition of his hard work and exemplary performance. His journey and success will continue to inspire young athletes of Manila and the entire nation)."

As expected, world No. 1 Mondo Duplantis of Sweden took the gold with a new world record (6.25m) to boot, United States' Sam Kendricks got the silver and Greece's Emmanouil Karalis took the bronze.

The 24-yar-old Duplantis broke his own world record of 6.24m set in April, the ninth time the two-time world champion has reset the mark.

John Cabang Tolentino will compete in the repechage of the 110-meter hurdles later Tuesday; while female boxers Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio have secured at least a bronze each.

Yet to see action are weightlifters Vanessa Sarno, John Ceniza and Elreen Ando; and golfers Dottie Ardina and Bianca Pagdanganan. (PNA)