Ernest John Uy Obiena or EJ Obiena, is one of the best athletes ever to emerge in the Philippines in the field of track and field. He is a pole vaulter of world standards. He is an Asian record holder and is a silver medalist at the world championships, who holds the rank 5 in men’s pole vault by the World Athletics Rankings as of 2025. Having won several Asian Games and several gold medals in SEA Games, EJ is not only being celebrated based on his medals but also opening the way to Filipino sportsmen all over the world.
In this article, the complete biography of EJ Obiena will be discussed.
EJ Obiena (Track Athelete): Biography
EJ Obiena was born on 17 November, 1995 in the Philippines. He is an embodiment of quality, training, and international competitiveness in sports. He was born into a family of athletes and his raw talent was turned into a high-performance level as a result of years of training in different countries (and especially in Italy under the great coach Vitaly Petrov). His historic leaps over 6 meters changed Asian pole vaulting.
| Attribute | Details |
| Full Name | Ernest John Uy Obiena |
| Popular Name | EJ Obiena |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Date of Birth | November 17, 1995 |
| Age | 30 |
| Birthplace | Tondo, Manila, Philippines |
| Sport | Track & Field – Pole Vault |
| World Ranking | No. 5 (as of August 2025) |
| Personal Best | 6.00 meters (Asian Record) |
| Active Years | 2014 – Present |
EJ Obiena Age (As of 2025)
EJ Obiena, a Filipino pole vaulter, was born on November 17, 1995, under the zodiac sign Scorpio. He is currently 30 years old and will turn 31 in November 2026.
| Aspect | Details |
| Age | 30 |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
EJ Obiena Height, Weight & Physical Status
EJ Obiena is 6 feet 2 inches tall. His success as a pole vaulter is highly dependent on his physical appearance. His size and lean muscle structure enable him to produce explosive speed, flexibility, and lift, which are essential conditions for clearing extreme heights.
| Physical Attribute | Details |
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) |
| Weight | Not Publicly Disclosed |
| Body Type | Lean, Athletic |
| Training Base | Formia, Italy |
| Strength Focus | Speed, flexibility, core power |
Early Life and Family Background
EJ Obiena grew up in Manila, Tondo, in a family that embraced sports to a great extent. His father, Emerson Obiena, was a former national pole vaulter and his mother, Jeanette Uy, was a hurdler. Both his parents are athletes of Chinese-Filipino descent, which is why EJ had access to the world of competitive sports from the early years of his life.
At the young age of 34 years old, he began imitating pole vaults in Rizal Memorial Stadium and had mastered the technique. He first majored in hurdles but officially became a pole vaulter when he was eight years old. His dad had used him as a coach till the age of 18 which had taught him some discipline and the technical basics that would be of later benefit in his elite career.
| Family Members | Name & Details |
| Father | Emerson Obiena – Former pole vaulter and EJ Obiena’s first coach |
| Mother | Jeanette Uy – Former hurdler |
| Heritage | Chinese-Filipino |
| Early Training Venue | Rizal Memorial Stadium |
Educational Background
While doing sports, EJ Obiena did not neglect his studies either. He went to Chiang Kai-shek College, a famous Chinese-Filipino school, and was very active in track and field events. After that, he went to Ateneo de Manila University and was a member of the varsity team for a short period before he moved to the University of Santo Tomas (UST). In UST, he was studying Electronics Engineering with the help of an athletic scholarship.
| Institution | Education Level / Notes |
| Chiang Kai Shek College | Secondary Education |
| Ateneo de Manila University | College (one season) |
| University of Santo Tomas | Electronics Engineering (on leave) |
EJ Obiena Girlfriend
Filipino pole vaulter star EJ Obiena and German track and field athlete Caroline Joyeux have been together for four years, their relationship being a beautiful example of love, understanding and shared passion for sports. They met each other for the first time during a training camp in Italy in 2020 and soon after, their friendship turned to a romantic relationship.
Joyeux, over the years, has gone to the competitions of Obiena and there she has been his number one fan, a support which she showed in a very touching and heartfelt manner when she painted her nails in Philippine flag colors during the time that he was competing in the Olympics. The couple also attended several high-profile events like Paris Fashion Week and the Paris Olympics 2024, letting all people see that their bond was strong and beautiful not only inside but also outside the stadium. Obiena has been very open about it that it is Joyeux who motivates him to become a better person and they both keep on doing this by being each other’s source of inspiration in their respective sporting careers, thus making their relationship a rare beautiful partnership at the top level of sports.
EJ Obiena & Caroline Joyeux – Relationship
| Detail | Information |
| Partner | Caroline Joyeux |
| Nationality | German |
| Profession | Track and field athlete |
| First Met | Training camp in Italy (around 2020) |
| Relationship Duration | 5+ years (as of late 2025) |
| Notable Appearances | Paris Fashion Week, Paris Olympics 2024 |
| Key Highlight | Strong mutual support in athletics |
EJ Obiena Professional Career
Obiena started pole vaulting when he was eight years old, but majored in events in high school, taking part in 100 m and 400 m hurdling. After reaching a stage where he could no longer qualify for higher-level competitions, he got back to pole vaulting during his last few years in school, and he hoped to score a college scholarship. This was a career-changing decision, since his advancement in the event was quick.
Breakthrough and National Records (2014-2016)
In 2014, Obiena got an opportunity to train in Formia, Italy, with Vitaly Petrov after a casual encounter with Sergey Bubka. He also jumped a Philippine national pole vault record of 5.01 m that year, breaking a record that had been in existence since 1992. Throughout 2014, Obiena was able to repeatedly set his own records with a high of 5.21 m at the end of the year.
In 2015, he took silver in the Southeast Asian Games, and in 2016, he took gold in the Philippine National Games with a clearance of 5.47 m despite equipment hitches.
Become Global (2017-2019)
Obiena kept advancing at the continental level, taking the bronze at the 2017 Asian Championships. He finally struck it in 2019, when he won the Asian Athletics Championships in the gold medal and subsequently, at Summer Universiade in Naples, he got a new national record of 5.76 m. He also set national records once more the same year when he cleared 5.81 m to qualify to compete in the Tokyo Olympics.
Covid-19 Climate Change (2020) and Olympic Journey and Pandemic Challenges (2020-21)
The COVID-19 crisis derailed the arrangements on a global scale, compelling Obiena to keep staying in Italy most of 2020. He made it to the finals of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where he was ranked 11th in spite of logistical problems. Later in 2021, he was the first person to pass 5.93 m at the Golden Roof Challenge in Innsbruck, breaking the Asian record and Philippine record.
World Championship Medals and Asian Dominance (2022–2023)
Obiena was the first Filipino to win a medal at the World Athletics Championships 2022, when he clinched the bronze in Eugene with a 5.94m jump. The following year, he went even higher by vaulting over 6.00m at the World Championships in Budapest to snag the silver and become the Asian record holder. He also took the gold at the Asian Games and kept on winning multiple regional titles, thus, confirming his absolute reign in Asia.
Paris Olympics and Injury Setback (2024)
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Obiena made it to the finals and ended up fourth, very close to the medal positions with a jump of 5.90 m. A bit later in the season, he decided to take a break due to a back injury.
Continued Success and Challenges (2025)
Obiena reclaimed his title at the Asian Athletics Championship with a gold medal in 2025. Despite that, he only managed an 18th-place finish in the World Championships qualifiers. Later, he represented the SEA Games in Thailand and won the gold medal there, too, thus strengthening his regional dominance.
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Mark |
| 2015 | SEA Games | Singapore | 2nd | 5.25 m |
| 2017 | Asian Championships | India | 3rd | 5.50 m |
| 2019 | Universiade | Italy | 1st | 5.76 m |
| 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo | 11th | 5.70 m |
| 2022 | World Championships | Eugene | 3rd | 5.94 m |
| 2023 | World Championships | Budapest | 2nd | 6.00 m |
| 2024 | Olympic Games | Paris | 4th | 5.90 m |
| 2025 | Asian Championships | Gumi | 1st | 5.77 m |
EJ Obiena Overall Medal Count
| Competition | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| World Championships | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Asian Games | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Asian Championships | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Universiade | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| SEA Games | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 9 | 2 | 2 |
EJ Obiena Records and Historic Feats
| Record Type | Mark | Event |
| Asian Record | 6.00 m | World Championships 2023 |
| Philippine Record | 6.00 m | World Championships 2023 |
| Asian Games Record | 5.90 m | Asian Games |
| Asian Championships Record | 5.91 m | Asian Championships |
| SEA Games Record | 5.65 m | SEA Games |
EJ Obiena Achievements and Awards
EJ Obiena is the most decorated pole vaulter in Asian history. He holds multiple continental and regional records and has received national recognition for his achievements.
| Year | Award / Record |
| 2019 | Asian Championships Gold |
| 2023 | Asian Games Gold (5.90 m – Games Record) |
| 2023 | World Championships Silver |
| 2023 | PSA Athlete of the Year |
| 2025 | Asian Championships Gold |
EJ Obiena Major Championship Medals
| Event | Medal | Year | Location |
| World Championships | Silver (6.00 m – Asian Record) | 2023 | Budapest |
| World Championships | Bronze | 2022 | Eugene |
| Asian Games | Gold | 2022 | Hangzhou |
| Asian Championships | Gold | 2019, 2023, 2025 | Doha, Bangkok, Gumi |
| Universiade | Gold | 2019 | Naples |
| SEA Games | Gold | 2019, 2021, 2023, 2025 | PHI, VIE, CAM, THA |
EJ Obiena Net Worth 2025
Though an exact and official “net worth” of Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena isn’t available.
EJ Obiena Social Media Profiles
EJ Obiena is very active and influential on social media, where he posts training clips, competition moments, brand collaborations, and motivational content content.
| Platform | Handle | Followers / Likes |
| @ernestobienapv | ~141K Followers | |
| TikTok | @ernestobienapv | ~87K Followers, 574K Likes |
| X (Twitter) | @ejobienapv | ~21K Followers |
EJ Obiena Recent News and Controversies
In 2025, EJ called his season “disappointing” after he came 18th at the World Championships, but he made up for it with gold medals at the Asian Championships and the SEA Games, where he set a new record. Before that, he was caught up in a serious dispute with PATAFA between 2021 and 2022, which accused him of committing financial irregularities. After a thorough investigation and a mediation conducted by the Philippine Olympic Committee, EJ was found not guilty of all charges and the management of the federation was penalized.
| Year | Issue / Event |
| 2025 | SEA Games Gold & Record |
| 2025 | World Championships – 18th Place |
| 2021–22 | PATAFA dispute (cleared) |
Conclusion
EJ Obiena’s rise from a young athlete in Manila to one of the world’s best pole vaulters is an amazing story of gumption, self-control, and faith. Through record-breaking and medal-winning, he has altered the perception of Filipino athletes in the world. Without a doubt, he still represents the Philippines’ glory and is the nation’s source of joy and motivation as he prepares for the next Olympic cycle and global competitions.
FAQs
In 2023, EJ Obiena’s best pole vault clearance was 6.00 meters, which is the Asian Record as well as the Philippine National Record.
The primary coach is Vitaly Petrov, with whom he has been working since 2014. Father Emerson Obiena also provides coaching guidance.
Yes, in 2022 (Eugene) he got a bronze medal, and in 2023 (Budapest) he won silver medal, thus, he is the first Filipino to do so.
Of course, EJ Obiena was at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and 2024 Paris Olympics, where he made it to the finals both times.
He is the most accomplished Filipino track and field athlete and the first Filipino to get an IAAF scholarship. Besides, he is the record holder for Asia in pole vault.