World no. 7 EJ Obiena is in awe as top-ranked Mondo Duplantis continues to set world records in men's pole vault.
EJ Obiana has nothing but praise for world no. 1 Mondo Duplantis, who keeps breaking record after another in pole vaulting.
Obiena’s remarks came just days after Duplantis broke his own world record for the 14th time, clearing 6.30m in the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
It was Duplantis’ third world title in four years.
“Mondo is really an amazing guy. Right now he’s breaking barriers and he’s putting the sport in the spotlight worldwide,” said Obiena, who won silver at the world championships after Duplantis in the 2023 edition.
Obiena himself is making history, putting the spotlight on the sport in the Philippines by spearheading the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge in Makati.
The said tournament, sanctioned by the World Athletics Continental Tour-Bronze category, is slated Sunday, Sept. 21 at the Ayala Triangle.
While Duplantis will not compete in Manila, Obiena gathered other world-class pole vaulters for the event in Ersu Sasma, Menno Vloon, Thibaut Collet, Austin Miller, Piotr Lisek, Oleg Zernikel, Ben Broeders, and Matt Ludwig.
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.