EJ Obiena wins gold at ISTAF Berlin

Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena secured the gold medal at ISTAF Berlin in Germany, clearing 5.82 meters to claim his fourth title at the event. The victory completes a sweep of the ISTAF Berlin competitions for Obiena, following his indoor win earlier this year. Belgian Ylio Philtjens took silver and France’s Robin Emig earned bronze, both clearing 5.72 meters.

Despite the win, Obiena missed the 5.97-meter clearance required to qualify for the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the competition conditions, noting that track activity caused issues for the pole vaulters.

Obiena, who has collected nine gold medals in 2026, is currently adjusting to a new training setup in Athens under a new coach. He is now preparing for upcoming competitions, including the Asian Games scheduled for September 20.