EJ Obiena bounced back from a dismal performance and clinched the gold medal of the ISTAF Berlin at the Olympiastadion in the German capital on Monday (Manila time).
Obiena soared over 5.92 meters in his third try to pluck the gold medal and complete his redemption following a last-place finish in the 10-man Zurich Diamond League in Switzerland last Friday.
Obiena, who also pocketed the gold medal in the outdoor edition of this tourney for the first time since 2021, tried to set a new Asian record at 6.01m but failed in three attempts.
Still, it was a mission accomplished for the second-best pole vaulter in the world, who soared to the Berlin skies with his lovely girlfriend, Caroline Joyeux, in the stands.
“It was a good day at Caroline Joyeux’s house. 5.92m for the gold. Finally, I got this outdoor trophy after so many years of coming up short,” Obiena said in a social media post.
“Happy for today and we will go back to it in three days.”
Sondre Guttormsen of Norway finished second with 5.82m, beating KC Lightfoot of the United States via countback despite clearing the same height.
American Christopher Nilsen, the bronze medalist in the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, took fourth place over Sasma Ersu of Turkey and Emmanouil Karalis of Greece after clearing 5.72m in just one attempt.
Menno Vloon of the Netherlands cleared takes seventh place over Italy’s Claudio Stecchi via countback despite both athletes clearing 5.52m.
Sam Kendricks, also of the US, took ninth place after needing three tries to get over 5.92m while hometown bet Oleg Zernikel settled for the 10th place over compatriot Gillian Ladwig via countback despite tallying identical 5.32m.
Ben Broeders of Belgium was the only contestant to not clear the bar after failing to get over the starting height of 5.32m.
World Champion Armand Duplantis of Sweden and 2023 World Athletics Championships bronze medalist Kurtis Marschall of Australia were the notable names missing from the tournament.
The job, however, is not yet done for Obiena as the Brussels Diamond League is set to begin on 8 September at the Brussels King Baudouin Stadium in Belgium.
He is also gearing up for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China from 23 September to 8 October.
