EJ Obiena’s Olympic journey is going nowhere but up following a heartbreakingly close podium miss in the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

The Asian record holder and world No. 2 settled for fourth place in the men’s pole vault final on early Tuesday, Aug. 6 (Manila time), before a packed Stade de France. 

Having waited three years to redeem himself at the grandest sporting showpiece since landing 11th in the 2021 Tokyo Games, the 28-year-old came impressively close to completing the only missing feat––but the biggest of all––in his otherwise decorated career. 

As Obiena deals with the outcome of his Paris campaign, he has vowed to earn himself a spot in the exclusive list of Filipino Olympic medalists now bannered by golden boy Carlos Yulo’s back-to-back golds in the men’s artistic gymnastics. 

“I first want to say thank you to everyone who has followed, supported, and believed in me. [Fourth] place is painful to say the least; and in sports with three podium places, perhaps [fourth] is the harshest place to be,” he said in a social media post. 
 
"I am heartbroken that a single failure cost me and cost a nation I so deeply love-the podium. I apologise for this outcome; such is life as the world of competitive sports can be exhilarating at times, and painful at others. I have experienced both and unfortunately today I am on the other side of it!"
 
Obiena’s path to Paris took one of the biggest twists and turns before he could get himself there––even becoming the first Filipino bet of the 22 delegates to qualify for the Paris Summer Games last year to assure the Philippines is seeing its 100th year of Olympic participation come to life. 

With that alone, Obiena, though still lamenting the loss, remained proud of the campaign he had so diligently put together. 

“On a positive note I am proud of what I was actually able to stitch together for this Olympics, with all the struggles that came with this year; but still it hurts to be this close to an Olympic Medal,” he continued. 

“As anyone can imagine, reality is still sinking in and I am processing the outcome. I learned a long time ago to take one day at a time, and that's exactly what I am going to do,” Obiena said. 

“Thank you again for your support and standing by me. I love you all, and we all share a common love and pride for the Philippines.”

Still, it didn’t escape Obiena to honor what Yulo has accomplished for the Philippines which was beyond belief on its own and an Olympic to remember. 

“[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. "The good get up" as they say. I have been knocked down. But I will get back up.”