EJ Obienna bags gold in Germany, his sixth in this 2026 season (cropped) | Photo Careers Filipino via Facebook
BERLIN, Germany — Filipino pole vault star EJ Obiena added another glittering chapter to his 2026 campaign after winning the Halberstadter Hohenflug – Internationales Stabhochsprung-Meeting on Saturday, clearing 5.76 meters to secure his sixth gold medal of the year. He finished ahead of Seifeldin Abdelsalam of Qatar (5.66 meters), and Cole Walsh of the United States (5.56 meters). The victory reinforces Obiena’s status as one of the world’s most consistent vaulters and a leading Asian contender in the sport.
Obiena’s Road to Berlin: A Season of Steady Climb
Obiena arrived in Berlin with momentum built from a string of strong performances across Europe and Asia. Just two weeks earlier, he claimed silver at Meeting Madrid, where he posted a season-best 5.85 meters—a mark that signaled his return to peak form after injury setbacks in 2025.
Before Madrid, Obiena dominated the Raiffeisen Austrian Open and the Czesław Cybulski Memorial in Poland, both outdoor meets where he cleared heights above 5.70m. His indoor season was equally impressive, highlighted by victories at the International Springer-Meeting Cottbus (5.77m), Asian Indoor Championships in Tianjin (5.70m), and ISTAF Indoor Berlin (5.78m).
These results formed the backbone of his Berlin confidence.
“I’m building my rhythm again. Every meet is a step toward where I want to be,” Obiena said in a post-event interview.
Berlin Showdown: Abdelsalam Pushes Obiena to the Limit
Obiena’s closest challenger in Berlin was Seifeldin Abdelsalam of Qatar, who cleared 5.66 meters. The two were locked in a tactical duel, with Abdelsalam needing three attempts at 5.66m while Obiena skipped the height entirely—an aggressive move that paid off.
Obiena cleared 5.76 meters on his first attempt, immediately putting pressure on the Qatari, who failed to match the height. American vaulter Cole Walsh finished third with 5.56m.
Obiena attempted 5.90 meters to surpass his season-best but missed all three tries. Still, the Berlin gold marked another milestone in a season defined by consistency and strategic brilliance.
Obiena’s Current Record and Global Standing
Obiena’s personal best remains 6.00 meters, achieved in 2022—a height that made him the first Filipino and Southeast Asian to join the exclusive “six-meter club.” As of August 2026, he sits at World No. 14, though his 2026 results suggest another climb is imminent
Obiena is not yet the world’s top vaulter. The sport continues to be dominated by Olympic champion Armand Duplantis, the world record holder. But Obiena remains one of the few athletes capable of challenging the Swede on a good day. While grassroots pole vault programs in Manila, Cebu, and Davao continue to grow, no other Filipino currently competes regularly on the international circuit. At the moment, he stands alone at the global elite level.
Soaring to greater heights, next?
Obiena is expected to head to several Diamond League meets and the Asian Championships, where he aims to collect ranking points and sharpen his form for year-end global competitions.
Obiena has competed in the Olympics: Tokyo 2020: Finished 11th, the highest Olympic pole vault finish in Philippine history, and Paris 2024: Qualified but struggled due to recurring spine issues, failing to reach the final.
His 2026 resurgence is widely seen as a comeback story—one that Berlin has now strengthened.
