Filipino pole vault icon EJ Obiena wins his third straight gold at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships

Filipino pole vault icon EJ Obiena is undoubtedly one of the best athletes to come from the Philippines, having played a key role in putting the sport on the map in the country.

Obiena continues to prove why he is not only the best pole vaulter in the Philippines but also across the entire continent of Asia, as he defended his Asian Athletics Championships crown at the showpiece event in Gumi, South Korea. The 29-year-old won his third consecutive Asian Athletics Championships gold medal on Saturday, May 31.

It wasn’t a walk in the park for Obiena, however, as he clinched the gold only after a jump-off against China’s Huang Bokai, clearing 5.77 meters. Both Obiena and Bokai had earlier cleared 5.72 meters but failed at 5.82 meters, prompting the need for a tie-break. The Filipino star successfully cleared 5.77 meters on his first attempt, while Bokai managed only 5.67 meters.

EJ TAKES HOME THE GOLD!

Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena won gold in the Asian Athletics Championship.

This is his third straight gold in the Asian tournament after winning in 2019 in Dubai and in Bangkok in 2023.

COURTESY: Philippine Athletics Track and Field… pic.twitter.com/YO8PvgBtg6

— GMA Integrated News (@gmanews) May 31, 2025

Obiena, currently ranked World No. 4, previously captured gold in the 2019 edition of the Asian Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, and repeated the feat in the 2023 edition in Bangkok, Thailand.

The Tondo native took to Instagram to celebrate his victory, stating: “Three-peat Asian Champion.”

The men’s pole vault event was the final competition of the Asian Athletics Championships. Obiena is now expected to return to training in preparation for upcoming international competitions. His most important challenge this year will be defending his title at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok. He currently holds the SEA Games pole vault record of 5.65 meters, set during the 2023 edition in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

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