Ernest John “EJ” Obiena is determined to return to the Olympics, hoping to compete in Los Angeles in 2028.
To secure his place, the 28-year-old pole vaulter knows he must maintain his world ranking and stay within the top 40 over the next four years.
“My goal right now is to hopefully hold my world ranking. We’ll see,” Obiena shared, just days after competing in the Paris Olympics. Currently ranked No. 2 in the world, Obiena revealed that he kept his true condition hidden from his rivals in the lead-up to the competition.
Obiena overcame a back injury to finish fourth in the men’s pole vault event at the Stade de France. “I was that close. All things considered, I was that close,” said the 6-foot-2 athlete.
During a Zoom call with reporters on Wednesday, Obiena was joined by his top supporter, James Lafferty, who shed light on the athlete’s condition. Obiena had been dealing with recurring back pain, which led him to undergo a secretive medical procedure just 12 days before the event.
“The fact that he competed was amazing. The fact that he landed fourth was beyond amazing,” Lafferty said, describing Obiena’s resilience.
Obiena’s pain originated in the lumbar region of his spine, and the severity of his condition required urgent attention. Lafferty and his team flew Obiena out of his training camp in Normandy to Italy for a cortisone shot—a procedure that, given its proximity to the spine, was far from routine. After just two days of rest, Obiena returned to Normandy to resume his preparations.
Lafferty explained their decision to keep the injury under wraps: “To tell everything was foolish at that time. Because all the pole vaulters who were competing are trying to move ahead.”
In the competition, Obiena and Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis both cleared 5.90 meters on their first attempts. However, Obiena ultimately lost on a countback after missing two attempts at 5.85 meters, leaving him just shy of a medal.
Sweden’s Armand Duplantis, the Tokyo Olympic gold medalist, successfully defended his title with a record-breaking 6.10-meter vault, setting a new Olympic record. Duplantis then went on to surpass his own world record by clearing 6.25 meters. Sam Kendricks of the United States claimed the silver with a 5.95-meter vault.
Obiena’s fourth-place finish, despite the challenges he faced, underscores his determination and resilience. As he looks ahead to the next four years, his focus remains on maintaining his elite status and making a strong return to the Olympic stage.
