(UPDATE) TWO-TIME Olympian Ernest John “EJ” Obiena kicked off the 2026 season on a high note, bagging a bronze medal at the 6th Istaf Indoor Dusseldorf held at the PSD Bank Dome in Dusseldorf, Germany.
The reigning Southeast Asian Games (SEA) champion cleared 5.65 meters to secure the bronze. Obiena also attempted 5.70 m but fell short in his three attempts.
Menno Vloon of the Netherlands took home gold with 5.75 m, while Sam Kendricks of the US settled for silver with 5.70 m.
Obiena hopes to keep the momentum going in his upcoming tournaments.
Obiena was last seen in action at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games last year in Bangkok, Thailand.
He cleared 5.70 m to set a new SEA Games record. Obiena broke his own SEA Games mark of 5.65 m set in the 2023 edition in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
This is his fourth consecutive SEA Games gold medal since 2017 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
This year, Obiena aims to defend his crown at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.
Obiena also holds the Asian Games record with a 5.90-m clearance at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games in China.