“I’ll be back,” Obiena cuts 2024 season short
It’s a season cut short for World’s No. 3 men’s pole vaulter EJ Obiena. The 28-year-old announced through his social media platforms that he will prematurely end his competitive 2024 season.
Obiena revealed in a virtual press conference last August 7 that he dealt with back injuries prior to the Olympics season. EJ had gone denervation 10 days before making it to the Paris games, although the athlete still pushed himself to his limits and achieved an amazing Top 4 result.
Obiena also achieved third place in the Lausanne Diamond League, and fifth place in the Diamond League Silesia leg. While the pole vaulter still had future plans to compete this year, his condition has now officially restrained him from performing in the foreseeable future.
He revealed that after the Silesia Diamond League, the back pain that had been bothering him all season returned once again. His doctor in Italy diagnosed him with a fractured L5 vertebra. This led Obiena to the tough decision of cancelling tournaments for this year – including the Philippines Pole Vault competition scheduled for September 20.
EJ hopes that he will be fully recovered in 2025, and assured fans and supporters that he will be back.
“You’ll see more of me, and the Philippine flag will be raised on a global scale,” wrote Obiena.
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