Obiena soars to record height, retains Asiad pole vault gold

Shenel Sheina Castillo

Ernest John Obiena proved he remains the benchmark of Asian pole vaulting after successfully defending his title and setting a new record at the 20th Asian Games at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, Japan, Sept. 29.

Riding the momentum of a dominant international season, the Filipino pole vaulter entered the competition looking to make another strong run at the Asian Games title.

This time, however, the world-class athlete had to clear unexpected hurdles even before stepping onto the runway.

Undeterred by the pre-competition friction and a rain-slicked track, Obiena delivered clean first-attempt clearances at 5.50 meters, 5.70 meters, and 5.75 meters to secure the gold medal, outlasting China’s Yao Jie and Li Chenyang, who both topped out at 5.70 meters.

With the title already assured, Obiena raised the bar to 5.91m—surpassing his previous Asian Games record of 5.90m set in Hangzhou—and cleared the height on his final attempt to seal a dominant, record-setting victory.

In his post-event presser, Obiena reflected on his athletic journey and his refreshed mindset toward the sport.

“I think I was not enjoying the sport as much as I should. I feel like it’s a bit of a reborn, a little bit of a different me. I’m happy to train, I’m happy to compete, I’m happy to take the risk. As long as I’m having fun, I think I’m going to keep jumping,” Obiena said.

Though his 2026 campaign closes on a high note in Nagoya, Obiena leaves Japan with a renewed mindset, strong momentum, and a clear vision as he locks his sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic.