Philippines' Ernest John Obiena competes in the men's pole vault final of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 5, 2024. Kirill Kudryavtsev, AFP

PARIS 2024

Kennedy Caacbay

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:958px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172292186613120240805-0lympics-polevault-obiena-2-AFP.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Philippines&#x27; Ernest John Obiena competes in the men&#x27;s pole vault final of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 5, 2024. Kirill Kudryavtsev, AFP"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Philippines&#x27; Ernest John Obiena competes in the men&#x27;s pole vault final of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 5, 2024. <em>Kirill Kudryavtsev, AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) – Bounce back stronger, EJ Obiena!</p><p>The Filipino pole vault star was visibly stunned after missing the podium in the 2024 Paris Olympics on Monday night at the Stade de France (early Tuesday in Manila).</p><p>It did not go unnoticed as his Filipino fans, who stayed up late to watch his campaign, were quick to point out the disappointment of the World No. 2 pole vaulter as they watched the livestream of his bout.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/8/5/heartbreak-for-obiena-as-he-misses-pole-vault-podium-052"><strong>READ: Heartbreak for Obiena as he misses pole vault podium</strong></a></div><p>Obiena wasn&#x27;t able to clear the 5.95-m mark in three attempts which led to the heartbreaking loss on the international stage.</p><p>In an<a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://youtu.be/T1Ow-m16ujo?si=5jM0BpQCO5Ocjh_u"> interview with Boom Gonzalez</a> of One Sports, Obiena apologized following the unfortunate conclusion of his Summer Games.</p><p>&quot;I apologize, I promised I’m gonna go back after Tokyo and do better. I did, but I would say it didn’t change in my book. Still, I came up short. I’m sorry, I apologize for it,&quot; Obiena said as he eventually teared up. &quot;We&#x27;ll see how it goes.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/8/3/paris-2024-ej-obiena-overcomes-slow-start-to-advance-to-pole-vault-finals-1843"><strong>READ: Paris 2024: EJ Obiena overcomes slow start to advance to pole vault finals</strong></a></div><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/8/3/paris-2024-how-ej-obiena-conquered-nerves-in-pole-vault-qualifying-2134"><strong>READ: Paris 2024: How EJ Obiena conquered nerves in pole vault qualifying</strong></a></div><p>Obiena was a jump closer from a bronze<span id="isPasted" style="line-height:107%">—</span>clearing the 5.95-m mark would have given him an assured bronze medal.</p><p>&quot;It’s painful. I missed a medal by one jump and it wasn’t far. Disappointed, definitely,&quot; he said.</p><p>Still, his Paris stint was an improvement from his 11th place finish in the Tokyo Games in 2021.</p><p>&quot;It’s the same, I still fell short. I think this one, if not [more] painful maybe just as much. I’m thankful that I got to the final, but at the same time I’m disappointed. It’s the same height and I missed it by one attempt. One attempt was an Olympic medal,&quot; said Obiena.</p><p>In an Instagram post on Tuesday, Obiena shared his reflections from his campaign and expressed his gratitude for the support he received.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/C-USzGNIbfI/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fnews-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A125689.79999995232%2C%22ls%22%3A125349.70000004768%2C%22le%22%3A125672.10000014305%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1087" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>&quot;I first want to say thank you to everyone who has followed, supported, and believed in me,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;4th place is painful to say the least; and in sports with three podium places, perhaps 4th is the harshest place to be. I am heartbroken that a single failure cost me and cost a nation I so deeply love—the podium,&quot; he went on. </p><p>The 28-year-old athlete also expressed appreciation to two-time Olympic gold medalist and fellow Manila native Carlos Yulo&#x27;s in the Games and vowed to return to strive for further greatness.</p><p>&quot;@c_edrielzxs [Carlos Yulo] has already made this an Olympics to remember and I salute him. I am sorry I didn’t join him on the podium but I will be back.&quot;</p><div><strong>--Courtesy: Cignal TV, One Sports/POC Media</strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fu6Kh6W_TqA??si=fYhHFwhxBhAYCrDq&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Filipino pole vault star EJ Obiena was visibly stunned after missing the podium in the 2024 Paris Olympics on Monday night at the Stade de France (early Tuesday in Manila).</p>

Filipino pole vault star EJ Obiena was visibly stunned after missing the podium in the 2024 Paris Olympics on Monday night at the Stade de France (early Tuesday in Manila).

EJ Obiena turns emotional after missing Paris 2024 podium: 'I came up short, I'm sorry'

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EJ Obiena turns emotional after missing Paris 2024 podium: 'I came up short, I'm sorry'

Kennedy Caacbay,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 06, 2024 01:27 PM PHT

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Updated Aug 06, 2024 03:05 PM PHT

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