EJ Obiena

{{Infobox sportsperson

| headercolor =

| name = EJ Obiena

| honorific_suffix =

| image = Bongbong Marcos with EJ Obiena (cropped).jpg

| image_size = 220

| caption = Obiena in 2022

| birth_name =

| fullname = Ernest John Uy Obiena

| nickname = EJ

| nationality = Filipino

| residence =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|11|17}}

| birth_place = Tondo, Manila, Philippines{{Cite web |url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2019/05/20/sports/sports-top/obiena-breaks-phs-100-year-gold-medal-drought-in-asian-pole-vault/557132/ |title=Obiena breaks PH's 100-year gold-medal drought in Asian pole vault |website=The Manila Times |date=May 20, 2019}}

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = 1.88 m{{cite web |url=https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/ernest-john-obiena_1978055 |title=OBIENA Ernest John |work=Paris 2024 Olympics |access-date=3 August 2024}}

| weight =

| website =

| country = Philippines

| sport = Track and field

| event = Pole vaulting

| collegeteam = Ateneo de Manila University
University of Santo Tomas

| club =

| team =

| turnedpro =

| coach = Emerson Obiena
Vitaly Petrov (2014)

| retired =

| coaching =

| worlds =

| regionals =

| nationals =

| olympics =

| paralympics =

| highestranking = No. 2 (2023)

| pb = {{Unbulleted list

|Pole vault: 6.00m (2023, NR and AR)

|110 m hurdles 14.39 (2017)

|}}

| module = {{Infobox Chinese|child=yes|t=蔡華強|s=蔡华强|p=Cài Huáqiáng|poj=Chhòa Hôa-kiông}}

| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Men's athletics}}

{{MedalCountry|the {{PHI}} }}

{{MedalCount|total=yes

|World Athletics Championships|0|1|1

|Asian Games|1|0|0

|Asian Athletics Championships|2|0|1

|Universiade|1|0|0

|Southeast Asian Games|3|1|0

}}

| show-medals = |

}}

Ernest John Uy Obiena (born November 17, 1995{{Cite web |url=https://www.iaaf.org/athletes/philippines/ernest-john-obiena-290722 |title=Ernest John OBIENA | Profile | World Athletics}}{{cite news |last1=Giongco |first1=Nick |title=Obiena places 4th, fails Olympic bid |url=http://www.mb.com.ph/obiena-places-4th-fails-olympic-bid/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304231828/http://www.mb.com.ph/obiena-places-4th-fails-olympic-bid/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |access-date=February 24, 2016 |newspaper=Manila Bulletin |date=February 23, 2016}}) is a Filipino pole vaulter. He is ranked world No. 4 in men's pole vault by the World Athletics Rankings as of February 11, 2025.{{cite web |title=Men's Pole Vault 2024 |url=https://worldathletics.org/world-rankings/pole-vault/men |website=World Athletics Organization |access-date=18 February 2025}}

Obiena currently holds the Asian record with his clearance of 6.00 meters at the 2023 World Athletics Championships where he won the silver medal.{{Cite web |title=Pole Vault Final Results |url=https://worldathletics.org/en/competitions/world-athletics-championships/budapest23/results/men/pole-vault/final/result |work=World Athletics |date=26 August 2023 |access-date=26 August 2023}} He also holds the Philippine national record with a clearance of 5.93 meters at the Golden Rooftop Challenge in Innsbruck, Austria on September 11, 2021.{{Cite news |title=EJ Obiena breaks Asian record, bags gold in Austria |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/ej-obiena-breaks-asian-record-rules-golden-roof-challenge-austria-2021 |website=rappler.com |author=Delfin Dioquino |date=12 September 2021 |access-date=5 October 2021}} Obiena is the current champion and record holder (5.90 m) of the Asian Games. He is also the two-time defending champion and current record holder (5.91 m) in the Asian Athletics Championships and three-time defending champion and current record holder (5.65 m) in the SEA Games. He also won the gold medal in the 2019 Summer Universiade held in Naples, Italy and has competed in the 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics.

Obiena is the first Filipino to receive a scholarship from the International Athletic Association Federation (IAAF).{{Cite web |url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2019/05/20/sports/sports-top/obiena-breaks-phs-100-year-gold-medal-drought-in-asian-pole-vault/557132/ |title=Obiena breaks PH's 100-year gold-medal drought in Asian pole vault |website=The Manila Times |date=May 20, 2019}}{{Cite web |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/drive/sports/09/26/19/before-each-leap-of-faith-tokyo-2020-bound-ej-obiena-is-calm-under-pressure |title=Before each leap of faith, Tokyo 2020-bound EJ Obiena is calm under pressure |website=ABS-CBN News |last1=Sampayan |first1=Jacs T. }}

Early life and education

Obiena was born to track and field athletes Emerson Obiena and Jeanette Uy, a former hurdler{{cite news |last1=Reyes |first1=Marc Anthony |title=Height of brilliance |url=http://sports.inquirer.net/237841/height-of-brilliance |access-date=February 12, 2017 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=February 12, 2017}} both parents of Chinese Filipino heritage on November 17, 1995, in Tondo, Manila.{{Cite web |url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2019/05/20/sports/sports-top/obiena-breaks-phs-100-year-gold-medal-drought-in-asian-pole-vault/557132/ |title=Obiena breaks PH's 100-year gold-medal drought in Asian pole vault |website=The Manila Times |date=May 20, 2019}} Obiena attended Chiang Kai Shek College, a Chinese Filipino school for his secondary education, and later entered the University of Santo Tomas for his undergraduate studies.

Triple jumper and Technische Universität Berlin student from Berlin, Caroline Joyeux (born March 26, 2001){{cite news |last1=Bravo |first1=Frances Karmel |title=Who is Caroline Joyeux, EJ Obiena's German athlete girlfriend? |url=https://www.pep.ph/lifestyle/lifestyle/182314/caroline-joyeux-ej-obiena-athlete-girlfriend-a5128-20240814?s=06vd64id0r3npd21gdvi39rnem |accessdate=August 18, 2024 |publisher=www.pep.ph |date=August 14, 2024}} is his girlfriend he dated since 2022.{{cite news |last1=Purnell |first1=Kristofer |title=EJ Obiena's girlfriend Caroline Joyeux shares Paris Olympics experience |url=https://qa.philstar.com/lifestyle/on-the-radar/2024/08/14/2377824/ej-obienas-girlfriend-caroline-joyeux-shares-paris-olympics-experience |accessdate=August 18, 2024 |publisher=The Philippine Star |date=August 14, 2024}}

Pole vault career

=Early years=

Obiena first took up pole vaulting when he was eight years old, but initially focused on hurdles. His father, Emerson Obiena served as his coach until he was 18 years old.{{cite news |title=How Sergey Bubka set EJ Obiena on pole vaulter's Olympic dream |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/sports/othersports/793883/how-sergey-bubka-set-ej-obiena-on-pole-vaulter-s-olympic-dream/story/ |access-date=July 3, 2021 |work=GMA News |date=July 3, 2021 |language=en}} Obiena competed in the 100 and 400 meter hurdles events for his high school, Chiang Kai Shek College. Unable to qualify for regional meets, he decided to return to pole vaulting when he was in his last years in high school, in a bid to secure a college scholarship.

In college, Obiena started his career at Ateneo de Manila University where he played one season{{Cite web |last=Navarro |first=June |date=2014-04-27 |title=EJ Obiena to train under pole vault great Bubka |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/151561/ej-obiena-to-train-under-pole-vault-great-bubka |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=INQUIRER.net |language=en}} before transferring to University of Santo Tomas, where he competed for them at the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

=National team=

{{Missing information|section|the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest|date={{monthyear}}}}

File:China's Ding Bangchao Won Gold, Japan's Masami Ejima Won The Silver And Philippines Ernest John Won The Bronze Medal.jpg.]]

In early 2014, Obiena was able to meet Ukrainian pole vaulter Sergey Bubka who was visiting the Philippines. Originally, he only intended to get an autograph from Bubka, but learned from him of an opportunity to train in Italy. In the same year for three months, Obiena travelled to Italy to train under coach Vitaly Petrov in Formia, who also previously coached Bubka.{{cite news |last1=Villar |first1=Joey |title=Obiena breaks 22-year-old PHL pole vault record |url=http://www.philstar.com/sports/2014/07/21/1348815/obiena-breaks-22-year-old-phl-pole-vault-record |access-date=February 24, 2016 |newspaper=The Philippine Star |date=July 21, 2014}} On July 20, 2014, at the PATAFA weekly relays held at the PhilSports Football and Athletics Stadium, Obiena broke the national record for pole vault by registering 5.01 meters. The previous record was 5.0 meters by Edward Lasquete at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. The junior national record was also broken, since Obiena at that time was still 18 years old. The previous record was 4.31 meters set three years before.

He later broke his own record several times in 2014 alone (5.05, 5.05, 5.15, 5.20, 5.21). By the time Obiena became ineligible for the national junior record, the record was 5.21 which Obiena set himself.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}}

In the 2015 Southeast Asian Games, Obiena won a silver medal with a leap of 5.25 meters, then his personal record.{{cite news |url=http://www.spin.ph/olympics/news/ej-obiena-pole-vault-poland-training-doha-asian-indoor-championship-rio-olympics |title=EJ Obiena set to complete pole vault training in Poland, looks to qualify for Rio through Doha tilt |publisher=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |last=Terrado |first=Reuben |date=January 4, 2016 |access-date=March 21, 2016}}

Obiena won a gold medal in the 2016 Philippine National Games Finals in Lingayen, Pangasinan after breaking a new personal record (5.47 meters), despite problems with a broken pole.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

Obiena won gold in the men's pole vault event at the 2019 Summer Universiade{{cite news |last1=Terrado |first1=Reuben |title=EJ Obiena captures gold medal in Summer Universiade in Italy |url=https://www.spin.ph/athletics/ej-obiena-captures-gold-in-summer-universiade-a795-20190713?ref=home_feed_1 |access-date=July 14, 2019 |date=July 13, 2019}} setting a new national record of 5.76 meters. He secured a berth in the 2020 Summer Olympics by surpassing the qualifying standard by making a 5.81 meters height in a tournament in Chiara, Italy on September 3, 2019. The height was also a national record.{{cite news |last1=Malanum |first1=Jean |title=Pinoy pole vaulter Obiena earns 2020 Tokyo Olympics slot |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1079527 |access-date=September 4, 2019 |work=Philippine News Agency |date=September 4, 2019}}

At the 2019 World Athletics Championships he failed to advance to the final round by finishing 15th out of 35 entrants through his 5.60 meters finish. {{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

The COVID-19 pandemic caused the postponement of the Olympics and travel restrictions imposed by countries in response to the health crisis posed logistical issues to Obiena's preparations. For most of 2020, Obiena spent his time training in Formia, Italy, and was unable to go back to the Philippines during the Christmas season. He trained under American conditioning coach James Michael Lafferty and Nutritionist Carol Lafferty; along with Brazilian Thiago Braz as his training partner.{{Cite web |last=Pedralvez |first=Manolo |date=January 24, 2021 |title=Tokyo Olympics: Don't be surprised if vaulter Obiena wins medal, says trainer |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/01/24/21/tokyo-olympics-dont-be-surprised-if-vaulter-obien |access-date=January 25, 2021 |website=ABS-CBN News |language=en}} Competing in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Obiena managed to advance to the final of the pole vault competition but failed to make the podium.{{cite news |last1=Lozada |first1=Bong |title=EJ Obiena ends Olympic bid, crashes out of men's pole vault final |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/432074/ej-obiena-ends-olympic-bid-crashes-out-of-mens-pole-vault-final |access-date=November 23, 2021 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=August 3, 2021}}

Obiena set a then Asian record in pole vault when he lifted his best vault all the way to 5.93 meters at the International Golden Roof Challenge in Innsbruck, Austria on September 12, 2021. He won the tournament.{{cite news |last1=Dioquino |first1=Delfin |title=EJ Obiena breaks Asian record, bags gold in Austria |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/ej-obiena-breaks-asian-record-rules-golden-roof-challenge-austria-2021 |access-date=September 12, 2021 |work=Rappler |date=September 12, 2021}} This record was later broken on July 25, 2022, when Obiena lifted his best vault all the way to 5.94 meters at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, United States. He won a bronze medal, becoming the first Filipino to win a medal in the tournament.{{cite web |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/finals-results-ej-obiena-world-athletics-championships-july-24-2022/ |title=EJ Obiena resets Asian record to claim historic bronze in World Athletics Championships |website=rappler.com |date=July 25, 2022 |access-date=August 1, 2022 |last=Dioquino |first=Delfin}}

In June 2023, Obiena cleared 6 meters for the first time at the Sparebanken Vest Bergen Jump Challenge in Norway also resetting the Asian record.{{cite news |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/ej-obiena-shatters-six-meter-barrier-secures-gold-at-bergen-jump-challenge/274251 |title=EJ Obiena shatters six-meter barrier, secures gold at Bergen Jump Challenge |publisher=Tiebreaker Times |last=Valderrama |first=Aeron Paul |date=June 10, 2023 |access-date=June 11, 2023}} He was able to accomplish said feat due to shifting to a 20-step technique from the previous 18-steps approach.{{cite news |last1=Maningat |first1=Raul |title=EJ Obiena reveals technique that paved way for record-breaking 6-meter jump |url=https://www.onesports.ph/more-sports/article/12667/ej-obiena-reveals-technique-that-paved-way-for-record-breaking-6-meter-jump |access-date=13 June 2023 |work=One Sport |date=12 June 2023 |language=en}} He was then ranked world No. 2 in men's pole vault by the 2023 World Athletics Rankings, just behind Armand Duplantis.{{cite news |last1=Mantaring |first1=Jelo Ritzhie |title=EJ Obiena vaults to number 2 in world rankings |url=https://www.cnnphilippines.com/sports/2023/7/20/ej-obiena-world-number-2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230723112912/https://www.cnnphilippines.com/sports/2023/7/20/ej-obiena-world-number-2.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 23, 2023 |access-date=23 July 2023 |agency=CNN |publisher=CNN Philippines |date=23 July 2023}}

Competing in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Obiena advanced to the finals after ranking 7th in the qualification round. He finished fourth in the overall competition at 5.90 meters.{{cite web |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/pole-vault-qualification-results-ej-obiena-paris-olympics-august-3-2024/ |title=EJ Obiena shakes off nerve-racking start to reach Olympic pole vault final |website=Rappler |date=August 3, 2024 |access-date=August 13, 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.ph/olympics/story/_/id/40736660/ej-obiena-olympics-pole-vault |title=Philippines at the Olympics: EJ Obiena finishes fourth in the men's pole vault |website=ESPN |last=Caramoan |first=Miguel Alfonso |date=August 6, 2024 |access-date=August 6, 2024 |archive-date=August 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806065522/https://www.espn.ph/olympics/story/_/id/40736660/ej-obiena-olympics-pole-vault |url-status=live}} He was then ranked world No. 3 in the 2024 World Athletics Rankings.{{cite news |title=EJ Obiena slips to no. 3 in world rankings |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/sports/othersports/917186/ej-obiena-slips-to-no-3-in-world-rankings/story/ |website=www.gmanetwork.com |date=16 August 2024 |access-date=16 August 2024}} Obiena would decide to sit out for the rest of the 2024 season due to his back injury after the Athletissima of the 2024 Diamond League.{{cite news |last1=Villanueva |first1=Ralph Edwin |title=Obiena out for rest of year due to back injury |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2024/08/28/2381224/obiena-out-rest-year-due-back-injury |access-date=28 August 2024 |work=The Philippine Star |date=28 August 2024}}

= Coaches =

Obiena has trained under coach Vitaly Petrov since 2014. Obiena's coaching team includes his father, Emerson Obiena, mentor James Michael Lafferty, physiotherapist Francesco Viscusi, osteopath Antonio Guglietta, nutritionist Carol Lafferty and sport psychologist Dr. Sheryll Casuga.{{Cite web |title=EJ mom confident son has mental battle handled |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/431797/ej-mom-confident-son-has-mental-battle-handled |access-date=January 10, 2022 |website=inquirer.net |date=August 2, 2021 |language=en}}

= Dispute with PATAFA =

In November 2021, the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) publicly escalated an accounting dispute involving late payments to Obiena's coach, Vitaly Petrov. Petrov later denied there was any payment issue with Obiena.{{cite news |title=Patafa orders Obiena to return financial assistance |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/442325/patafa-orders-obiena-to-return-financial-assistance |access-date=November 23, 2021 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=November 21, 2021 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Yumol |first1=David Tristan |title=EJ Obiena denies not paying Ukrainian coach, threatens to 'immediately' retire |url=https://cnnphilippines.com/sports/2021/11/21/EJ-Obiena-PATAFA-probe-.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121141936/https://www.cnnphilippines.com/sports/2021/11/21/EJ-Obiena-PATAFA-probe-.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 21, 2021 |access-date=November 23, 2021 |work=CNN Philippines |date=November 21, 2021 |language=en}} Philippine Senators quickly came to Obiena's defense, calling unproven accusations "harassment" against an athlete considered a national treasure and passing a motion to recall the budget of the PSC. The Senators later approved the PSC budget with the condition that PATAFA will “rectify the grave injustice” done to Obiena's reputation. During congressional hearings, witnesses testified that PATAFA's payment system is broken.{{cite news |url=https://mb.com.ph/2021/11/24/senators-want-pscs-budget-for-patafa-removed-if-harassment-vs-ej-obiena-persists/ |title=Senators want PSC's budget for Patafa removed if 'harassment' vs EJ Obiena persists |publisher=Manila Bulletin |last=Torregoza |first=Hannah |date=November 24, 2021 |access-date=November 24, 2021}}{{cite news |title=EJ Obiena's patron hits at 'broken system' in PATAFA row |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/ej-obiena-patron-hits-broken-system-patafa-row/ |access-date=December 16, 2021 |publisher=Rappler |date=December 15, 2021}}{{cite news |title=Obiena-Patafa row deeply concerning |url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/12/05/opinion/editorial/obiena-patafa-row-deeply-concerning/1824719 |access-date=December 16, 2021 |publisher=The Manila Times |date=December 5, 2021}}{{cite news |title=The High Road |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2021/12/18/2148710/high-road |access-date=December 22, 2021 |publisher=The Philippine Star |date=December 18, 2021}}

After an investigation by its Ethics Committee, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) declared PATAFA's president Philip Juico persona non grata for his role in the harassment of Obiena. The investigation of the POC's ethics committee concluded that Juico had harassed the athlete by making "malicious public accusations".{{cite news |title=POC declares Juico as persona non grata |url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/12/29/sports/poc-declares-juico-as-persona-non-grata/1827507 |access-date=December 28, 2021 |publisher=The Manila Times |date=December 29, 2021}}{{cite news |title=POC declares Patafa chief Philip Juico persona non grata after Obiena rift |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/445835/poc-declares-patafa-chief-philip-juico-persona-non-grata-after-obiena-rift |access-date=December 28, 2021 |publisher=The Manila Times |date=December 28, 2021}}

On March 30, 2022, the Philippine Sports Commission announced that both parties reached an agreement during a mediation process. Obiena will be endorsed by PATAFA in any future competitions.{{cite news |last1=Terrado |first1=Reuben |title=EJ Obiena, Patafa reach agreement during PSC mediation |url=https://www.spin.ph/athletics/ej-obiena-patafa-reach-agreement-during-psc-mediation-a795-20220330 |access-date=March 30, 2022 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |date=March 30, 2022 |language=en}}

Competition record

{{Multiple image

| direction = vertical

| image1 = WKBO4418 Polevault M final Obiena (53173530700).jpg

| caption1 = Obiena competing at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest

| image2 = EJ Obiena - 19th Asian Games.jpg

| caption2 = Obiena at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China

}}

{{AchievementTable}}
colspan="6"\|Representing the {{PHI}}
2013 \|Southeast Asian Games \|Naypyidaw, Myanmar \|4th \|4.90 m
2015 \|Southeast Asian Games \|Singapore \|bgcolor=silver\|2nd \|5.25 m
2016 \|Asian Indoor Championships \|Doha, Qatar \|4th \|5.40 m
2017 \|Asian Championships \|Bhubaneswar, India \|bgcolor="cc9966" \|3rd \|5.50 m
2018 \|Asian Games \|Jakarta, Indonesia \|7th \|5.30 m
rowspan=4\|2019 \|Asian Championships \|Doha, Qatar \|rowspan=3 bgcolor="gold" \|1st \|5.71 m
Southeast Asian Games \|Philippines \|5.45 m
Universiade \|Naples, Italy \|5.76 m
World Championships \|Doha, Qatar \|15th (q) \|5.60 m
2021 \|Olympic Games \|Tokyo, Japan \|11th \|5.70 m
rowspan=2\|2022 \|Southeast Asian Games \|Vietnam \|bgcolor="gold" \|1st \|5.46 m
World Championships \|Eugene, Oregon \|bgcolor="cc9966" \|3rd \|5.94 m
rowspan=4\|2023 \|Southeast Asian Games \|Phnom Penh, Cambodia \|bgcolor="gold" \|1st \|5.65 m
Asian Championships \|Bangkok, Thailand \|bgcolor="gold" \|1st \|5.91 m
World Championships \|Budapest, Hungary \|bgcolor=silver \|2nd \|6.00 m
Asian Games \|Hangzhou, China \|bgcolor=gold \|1st \|5.90 m
rowspan=2\|2024 \|World Indoor Championships \|Glasgow, United Kingdom \|9th \|5.65 m
Olympic Games \|Paris, France \|4th \|5.90 m

colspan="6"|Representing the {{PHI}}

2013

|Southeast Asian Games

|Naypyidaw, Myanmar

|4th

|4.90 m

2015

|Southeast Asian Games

|Singapore

|bgcolor=silver|2nd

|5.25 m

2016

|Asian Indoor Championships

|4th

2017

|bgcolor="cc9966" |3rd

2018

|7th

rowspan=4|2019

|rowspan=3 bgcolor="gold" |1st

|5.71 m

Southeast Asian Games

|5.45 m

|15th (q)

2021

|11th

rowspan=2|2022

|Southeast Asian Games

|Vietnam

|bgcolor="gold" |1st

|5.46 m

World Championships

|Eugene, Oregon

|bgcolor="cc9966" |3rd

|5.94 m

rowspan=4|2023

|Southeast Asian Games

|Phnom Penh, Cambodia

|bgcolor="gold" |1st

|5.65 m

|bgcolor="gold" |1st

|bgcolor=silver |2nd

|bgcolor=gold |1st

rowspan=2|2024

|World Indoor Championships

|Glasgow, United Kingdom

|9th

|4th

Awards and accolades

Philippine Sportswriters Association Athlete of the Year (2023){{cite news |url=https://www.spin.ph/life/guide/ej-obiena-gets-nod-as-2023-psa-athlete-of-the-year-a1373-20240101?ref=home_feed_1 |title=EJ Obiena gets nod as 2023 PSA Athlete of the Year |publisher=Spin.ph |date=January 1, 2024 |accessdate=January 1, 2024}}
Pasyon Kay EJ (At sa mga Atletang Pinoy sa Paris Olympics) (2024) - by Rio Alma (Virgilio S. Almario){{cite news |last1= |first1= |title=National Artist Virgilio Almario writes poem for EJ Obiena, other Filipino athletes |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/artandculture/916103/national-artist-virgilio-almario-writes-poem-for-ej-obiena-other-filipino-athletes/story/ |accessdate=August 7, 2024 |publisher=ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs |date=August 6, 2024}}