EJ Obiena Defends Asian Games Gold, Breaks Own Record

EJ Obiena proved he’s still king of the hill, closing out his exceptional 2026 season with a record-breaking gold win for the Philippines in the pole vaultPole VaultA track event in which an athlete uses a long flexible pole to launch over a high bar. Filipino athlete EJ Obiena has become one of the world's best inGo to Pole Vault Glossary finals of the 20th Asian Games on Tuesday, September 29, at Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya, Japan.

The inclement weather was no problem for the returning pole vaultPole VaultA track event in which an athlete uses a long flexible pole to launch over a high bar. Filipino athlete EJ Obiena has become one of the world's best inGo to Pole Vault Glossary champion, who cleared 5.60 m and did not miss an attempt until 5.80m, by which point many of his rivals had already been eliminated.

With only two competitors left, China’s Li Chenyang failed to clear 5.80 m and bowed out of the competition. Obiena, who had already secured the gold, aimed higher and had the bar raised to 5.91 m. With support from his team, he cleared the bar, setting a new Asian GamesAsian GamesA multi-sport event held every four years for athletes across Asia, second in scale only to the Olympics on the continent. For Filipino fans, it is a major stage whereGo to Asian Games Glossary record for a second time in a row.

Obiena also beat 11 other heavy hitters, including Qatar’s Seifeldin Abdelsalam, who has cleared 5.90 m this season, and China’s Yao Jie, who has a personal best of 5.82 m.

The Asian Games win further cemented Obiena’s 2026 resurgence and added to the nine golds he has collected this year. These include his 5.81 m win at ISTAF Berlin on Sunday, August 30, and his season-best 5.91 m at the Golden Sand meeting on August 17 at the Promenada Gwiazd in Międzyzdroje, Poland, among others.

Obiena joins Philippines gymnast star Carlos Yulo in achieving gold at the 2026 Asian GamesAsian GamesA multi-sport event held every four years for athletes across Asia, second in scale only to the Olympics on the continent. For Filipino fans, it is a major stage whereGo to Asian Games Glossary, and can now rest easy and prepare for 2027 after this historic season-ender. Obiena went through a difficult 2025, when he dropped from world No. 2 to No. 18 while recovering from a lumbar spine and nerve injury.