Obiena building on return to top form ‘brick by brick’ with 1st gold of 2026

MANILA, Philippines – Slowly but surely, EJ Obiena is working his way back to top form.

The Filipino pole vaulter nailed his first gold of the year after sharing the top honors in the Internationales Springer-Meeting Cottbus in Germany on Wednesday, January 28. 

After starting the year with a 5.65-meter clearance that netted him a bronze in the ISTAF Indoor Dusseldorf just four days prior, Obiena leapt past 5.77m this time to land at the top of the podium alongside Menno Vloon of the Netherlands.

Obiena’s 5.77m vault is just three centimeters off his 2025 best mark of 5.80m. 

“Brick by brick we build,” wrote Obiena, who owns a personal best of 6.00m he accomplished twice in 2023, on his social media pages.

Obiena and Vloon engaged in a jump-off after both exhausted their three attempts at 5.84m, but after the two once again failed to clear the height, they and meeting officials agreed to have two winners. 

While competition is fierce, Obiena still makes it a point to have fun as he hurdled 5.77m while Filipino rap-rock classic Bagsakan by Parokya ni Edgar, Francis M, and Gloc-9 was blasting throughout the Lausitz Arena.

Obiena then celebrated with a carefree dance.

“Brought one of my childhood beats (songs you’d hear on jeepneys) here in Cottbus and got the crowd vibing,” said Obiena.

“I know my dance celebration can be better…it will be better.” – Rappler.com