An apologetic EJ Obiena emerged after finishing fourth in the men’s pole vault event at the 2024 Paris Olympics, expressing his disappointment at missing the podium but also thanking fans for their support.
After placing 11th at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Obiena had been collecting medals and setting personal records, achieving a No. 2 world ranking and a chance to end the country’s 88-year drought in athletics.
However, the Paris Olympics had different plans for the Thomasian athlete, as he failed three times at the 5.95-meter mark and missed the podium.
“Fourth place is painful, to say the least, and in sports with three podium places, perhaps fourth place is the harshest place to be,” Obiena wrote on social media. “I am heartbroken that a single failure cost me, and cost a nation I so deeply love, the podium.”
“I apologize 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.”
Before the Olympics, Obiena admitted that his preparation for Paris was far from perfect, as he had been hindered by “physical problems.”
“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,” he said, “but still, it hurts to be this close to an Olympic medal.”
The world’s best pole vaulter, Armand Duplantis of Sweden, won gold, while the USA’s Sam Kendricks and Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis took silver and bronze, respectively.
Obiena gave props to Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo for bagging two gold medals in gymnastics and expressed dismay that he was unable to replicate his feat.
“Carlos Yulo has already made this an Olympics to remember and I salute him,” Obiena said.
“I am sorry I didn’t join him on the podium but I will be back.”
