Setting the bar higher.
Two-time Olympian EJ Obiena once again rewrote history on his way to winning his fourth straight gold medal in the men’s pole event in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, on Tuesday at the Supachalasai National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand.
The 30-year-old National team standout successfully defended his regional title in his closest biennial meet test yet, as he rose above the challenge of host country Thailand’s bet, Amsamang Patsapong, in the finals.
It was a smooth-sailing opening stride for EJ as he easily cleared his first height at 5.35 meters. He followed it up with an easy back-to-back, soaring past the 5.45 meters and the 5.55 mark.
Obiena then shattered the SEA Games record as he cleared the 5.70-meter mark in only one attempt, erasing his own regional meet record that he himself set in Cambodia in 2023.
Playing in front of his home crowd, Patsapong of Thailand made a run for himself down the stretch, also clearing 5.70 meters, but he had to settle for silver after the countback as Obiena cleared the height in his first try, unlike him, who needed three attempts.
It is the fourth straight gold medal finish for the pride of Tondo, Manila, with his first taste of gold being in the country’s historic SEA Games hosting in 2019 at home at the New Clark City. Since then, the University of Santo Tomas athlete dominated the biennial games, topping the podium in the Hanoi SEA Games in 2021 and the 2023 edition that was held in Cambodia, where he previously set the regional record at 5.65 meters.
“It’s too close for comfort,” the current world number 5 pole vaulter said after the game. “I knew that going in, it’s early in the season. I thought I would win with 5.65, 5.60. I have like four bleeding blisters going on. It is what it is. I had a jump to do.”
“I was hoping that he would not push me today, but that’s competition. I had my fair share of competing at home. I know how that feels,” he added.
Obiena’s teammate and another Philippine team pride, Elijah Cole, completed the podium as he seized the tournament’s bronze medal at 5.20 meters.
This historic win capped off Obiena’s 2025 campaign, which included a string of record-breaking performances. Last May, Obiena won an unprecedented third consecutive gold medal at the 26th Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea. He then rode on his momentum, winning multiple Continental Tour events like the Meeting Metz Moselle Athlelor in France, Orlen Copernicus Cup in Poland, and the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge that was held in the country last September.