SEA GAMES: Obiena stays king with fourth straight gold

EJ Obiena is still the man to beat in Southeast Asian pole vaulting.

The Filipino star locked up his fourth consecutive SEA Games gold on Tuesday after topping the men’s pole vault finals at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games at Thailand’s National Stadium.

Obiena wasted no time making history, clearing 5.70 meters on his first try to break the SEA Games record he set himself two years ago in Cambodia. His previous best was 5.65 meters from the 2023 edition.

Thailand’s Patsapong Amsam-ang matched the 5.70-meter mark and even set a new personal best, but needed three attempts to get there—enough only for silver. Obiena’s cleaner jump sealed the gold.

Team Philippines also landed on the podium as Elijah Cole took bronze after clearing 5.20 meters, a strong bounce-back from the 2023 SEA Games where he failed to register a height.

The gold didn’t come on cruise control for Obiena. He opened smoothly at 5.35 meters, needed two tries at 5.45, then found his rhythm as he cleared 5.55 and 5.65 to equal the Games record. One confident jump later, he was over 5.70.

Amsam-ang briefly threatened to force a showdown after matching the height, but both vaulters came up short at 5.75 meters. With fewer attempts, Obiena once again stood tallest—still the Southeast Asian standard.