Filipino Pole Vaulter EJ Obiena Misses Final at 2025 World Athletics Championships

Filipino Olympic pole vaulter Ernest John "EJ" Obiena was unable to advance to the final round of the men’s pole vault event at the 2025 World Athletics Championships held in Tokyo, Japan. Despite his strong competitive history, Obiena did not secure a spot among the top 12 qualifiers during the Saturday evening session.

Obiena opted to bypass the 5.40-meter mark before successfully clearing 5.55 meters. However, he failed his first two attempts at 5.70 meters, skipped the next height, and attempted 5.75 meters as his last effort. Unfortunately, he was unable to clear this height, resulting in his elimination from the competition.

This outcome contrasts with Obiena’s previous World Championships performances, where he notably earned a silver medal in 2023 in Budapest with a vault of 6.00 meters, finishing behind Armand Duplantis. In 2022, he claimed bronze in Oregon, trailing Duplantis and Christopher Nilsen. Obiena had withdrawn from the 2024 championships to rest a back injury following the Paris Olympics.

Throughout 2025, Obiena’s performances have seen mixed results. He achieved a third-place finish at the World Athletics Continental Tour in Beijing and was runner-up at the Meeting Madrid. However, he also experienced disappointing outcomes, including seventh-place finishes at events in Monaco and Stockholm, as well as a no-mark at the Oslo Bislett Games.

Obiena, one of the Philippines' most prominent track and field athletes, continues to compete at the highest international levels despite recent setbacks.