MANILA, Philippines — “Fourth place is painful, to say the least; and in sports with three podium places, perhaps 4th is the harshest place to be.”
This was how Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena describes his fourth-place finish at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
After three unsuccessful attempts to clear the 5.95-meter mark, Obiena fell short of the podium, with Sweden’s Armand Duplantis sticking to his gold medal win with the bar raised to 6.25 m — a new world record height.
In a Facebook post,, Obiena turned emotional following the competition where he apologized for falling short of the podium.
“I am heartbroken that a single failure cost me and cost a nation I so deeply love—the podium,” Obiena said.
Obiena’s fourth-place finish in Paris 2024 was a big improvement from his 11th place in Tokyo 2020.
“On a positive note I am proud of what I was actually able to stitch together for this Olympics, with all the struggles that came with this year; but still it hurts to be this close to an Olympic Medal,” Obiena said.
Several supporters including Obiena’s former coaches express their support to the athlete, saying that the trackster will come back stronger following his 4th place ranking.
“I’m sure he’ll come back stronger and we’re looking [forward] to that,” said Diana Sy, Obiena’s former coach, in a media interview.
‘Taking one day at a time’
With his feat, from 11th place up to his fourth-place finish, Obiena said he “learned” a long time ago to “take one day at a time.”
“That’s exactly what I am going to do. Thank you again for your support and standing by me. I love you all, and we all share a common love and pride for the Philippines,” Obiena said.
Obiena continues to apologize for the result of the Olympics but he is also frequent in saying that he will get back on his feet and will be back with a “good get up.”
He likewise congratulated his fellow athlete, gymnast Carlos Yulo who won two gold medals in two consecutive nights in the same Olympics.
“Carlos Yulo has already made this an Olympics to remember and I salute him,” he said.
