EJ Obiena sets sights on LA Olympics after stellar 2026 season

MANILA — After capping off his stellar 2026 season by defending his Asian Games pole vault title, EJ Obiena has his sights on returning to the Olympics. 

Obiena has been competing since January across Europe and China, winning nine gold medals before flying to Nagoya, Japan for the 20th Asian Games.     

He topped the podium in the Asiad for his 10th gold of the 2026 season, while also setting a new Games record of 5.91-meters — tying his season-best.

The Olympic pole vaulter is treating his 2026 campaign as a springboard toward the next season and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. 

“For me, this season has been a welcome sight to see. The last two years have been rough for me. Missing the podium in Paris, falling out of the top 10 and falling as low as 15,” Obiena said at the homecoming press conference on Monday. 

Obiena earlier said as long as he’s healthy and he’s having fun, he does not see why he would not try to qualify again for the Olympics. 

“LA is the goal. I defended my title here, and I think I’m, like I said, I have a lot of upside. It’s just a matter of time. We will see. But again, I can’t predict the future. If I could, I would,” the 30-year-old said. 

“But I can promise you that I’m going to give it my all. It’s going to be a tough qualification. But I believe I’m on the right path, in a better path, let’s say, going to LA. And the first step for that is to qualify,” he added. 

Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena competes in the men’s pole vault final in the 2026 Asian Games, September 29, 2026 at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya, Japan. POC Media Obiena was honest about his struggles after the Paris Olympics, where he placed a heartbreaking fourth to miss out on a medal. 

“I didn’t know if I should continue or not. I think I never truly digested that. And things continued. The season didn’t stop, and I needed to stop because of my health. Then the next year, I was hungry to prove to everyone that I am who I believe I am,” he shared. 

“And I think that’s not the right mindset, at least at that point in time. I hurt myself even more, went to the world championship, didn’t qualify for the final,” the Olympic pole vaulter said. 

Hosting his own competition at home — the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault — in September 2025 was crucial for Obiena, as it sparked the renewal of his passion for the sport. 

However, it took time before he could return to his usual standard, including clearing 5.80-m.

“Trust me, I tried everything that I could do, but I can’t break 5.80m. And with that, you know, I said to my coach, if I keep jumping like this, I think maybe I’ve run the course. My time has passed. It’s a game of a young man’s game. So maybe it is indeed my time,” Obiena admitted. 

“And I said, if I don’t jump any, at least a single bar over 5.80 this year, or at least jump comfortably, I think I need some, I gotta do some thinking. The season slowly, slowly is about to start, and I’m starting to feel like it’s about to be the same kind of thing,” he added. 

Obiena ultimately decided to part ways with longtime coach and mentor Vitaly Petrov in Formia, Italy to move to Athens, Greece and train with his friend and fellow Olympian Emmanouil Karalis. 

Equipped with a new mindset, brighter perspective and renewed passion for pole vault, Obiena believes he can keep going and reach greater heights. 

“I feel like I can do this for another couple of years if my body holds up. And, you know, God willing, I think I want to keep doing this until I can,” he said.