MANILA, Philippines – Pinoy’s pride Ernest John “EJ” Obiena impressed the world as he competed and won in the Memorial van Damme Wanda Diamond League meet in Brussels, Belgium on Friday, September 2 (early Saturday Manila time).
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| EJ Obiena wins his 3 gold medals in the recent European league | Photo Courtesy: Facebook/ EJ Obiena |
Obiena is on a roll as he bagged his first Wanda Diamond League victory and defeated world record holders in the men’s pole vault event.
In an impressive display of skills, world no. 3 Obiena defeated world no. 1 and world record holder Armand “Mondo” Duplantis of Sweden. The Pinoy athlete cleared the 5.91 meters in his third attempt while Duplantis missed the mark.
After three failed attempts, Duplantis settled for second place with a 5.81 meters record. His performance shocked the fans as he earlier set a new world record in this year’s World Championships with 6.21 meters.
Third place went to another top pole vaulter USA’s Christopher Nilsen who marked a record of 5.71 meters. Nilsen admitted that only Obiena made good marks in the competition and deserves his first-ever Diamond League victory.
He said, “Third with 5.71m is all I can say. No one produced any good marks today except Ernest John with a first Diamond League win.”
Meanwhile, Obiena shared his victory on social media describing how memorable it was. “Made a core memory today. First @diamondleagueathletics win here in @allianzmemorialvandamme with 5.91m,” he wrote.
Obiena continues his triumphant streak in Germany with 3 gold medals and a total of 5 podium finishes in 2 weeks. He earlier won at the 26th Internationales Stabhochsprung Meeting in Jockgrim on August 23 and the True Athletes Classic 2022 on August 28 in Leverkusen and the St. Wendel City Jump in Sankt Wendel on August 31.
— Sally, The Summit Express
