SPORTS
Advocates Philippines
Obiena, Athlete Of The Year At The SMC-PSA Awards Night
Photo credit: EJ Obiena
In a 12-month span, 28-year-old Tondo-born pole vaulter EJ Obiena has etched his name in the annals of Philippine sports history, securing an impressive list of achievements that culminated in his selection as the Athlete of the Year at the upcoming San Miguel Corporation (SMC)-PSA Awards Night.
Obiena's stellar year was highlighted by gold-medal triumphs in three major international tournaments, where he not only clinched victory but did so in record-breaking fashion.
His journey began with a historic performance in the World Athletics Championships, where he became the first Filipino to join pole vault's ultra-elite 6.00-meter club.
The Tondo native continued to make waves, securing a silver medal in a tournament in Sweden, making him the first Filipino athlete to secure a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics just a day after the qualifiers began. Obiena's accomplishments contributed to him finishing the year as the no. 2 ranked athlete in his field globally.
The decision to award Obiena the coveted Athlete of the Year honor was not taken lightly, as the country's oldest media organization, composed of print and online sportswriters, headed by president Nelson Beltran of The Philippine STAR, gave him the nod over other outstanding achievements in Philippine sports history.
The likes of Gilas Pilipinas' historic basketball gold in the Asian Games, the Filipinas national team's groundbreaking win in the FIFA Women's World Cup, and the double gold achievement in jiu-jitsu by Meggie Ochoa and Annie Ramirez were considered.
The blue-ribbon event will be presented by ArenaPlus, with major sponsorship from the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, @PLDT/SMART Sports, and MILO® Philippines. Additional support comes from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), Premier Volleyball League, Rain or Shine, and 1-Pacman Partylist Rep. Mikee Romero.
Hailing from a family of track and field athletes, Obiena is the first track athlete to receive the prestigious Athlete of the Year award since long jumper Marestella Torres in 2009. His dominance in the pole vault arena in Asia was underlined by record-setting performances in the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games, the Asian Athletics Championships in Thailand, and the Hangzhou Asian Games.
In an extraordinary feat, Obiena became the first and only Asian athlete to clear the 6.00-meter mark, winning gold in the Sparebanken Vest Bergen Jump Challenge in Norway.
This accomplishment, along with his silver medal at the World Athletics Championship in Budapest, propelled him to the second spot in the world rankings, behind the renowned Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis.
Obiena's stellar year was highlighted by gold-medal triumphs in three major international tournaments, where he not only clinched victory but did so in record-breaking fashion.
His journey began with a historic performance in the World Athletics Championships, where he became the first Filipino to join pole vault's ultra-elite 6.00-meter club.
The Tondo native continued to make waves, securing a silver medal in a tournament in Sweden, making him the first Filipino athlete to secure a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics just a day after the qualifiers began. Obiena's accomplishments contributed to him finishing the year as the no. 2 ranked athlete in his field globally.
The decision to award Obiena the coveted Athlete of the Year honor was not taken lightly, as the country's oldest media organization, composed of print and online sportswriters, headed by president Nelson Beltran of The Philippine STAR, gave him the nod over other outstanding achievements in Philippine sports history.
The likes of Gilas Pilipinas' historic basketball gold in the Asian Games, the Filipinas national team's groundbreaking win in the FIFA Women's World Cup, and the double gold achievement in jiu-jitsu by Meggie Ochoa and Annie Ramirez were considered.
The blue-ribbon event will be presented by ArenaPlus, with major sponsorship from the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, @PLDT/SMART Sports, and MILO® Philippines. Additional support comes from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), Premier Volleyball League, Rain or Shine, and 1-Pacman Partylist Rep. Mikee Romero.
Hailing from a family of track and field athletes, Obiena is the first track athlete to receive the prestigious Athlete of the Year award since long jumper Marestella Torres in 2009. His dominance in the pole vault arena in Asia was underlined by record-setting performances in the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games, the Asian Athletics Championships in Thailand, and the Hangzhou Asian Games.
In an extraordinary feat, Obiena became the first and only Asian athlete to clear the 6.00-meter mark, winning gold in the Sparebanken Vest Bergen Jump Challenge in Norway.
This accomplishment, along with his silver medal at the World Athletics Championship in Budapest, propelled him to the second spot in the world rankings, behind the renowned Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis.
Jan 2, 2024
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