Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena just missed out on a podium finish in the 2024 Paris Olympics, placing fourth overall.

Obiena faulted three times at the 5.95-meter mark in the finals at the Stade de France yesterday (Philippine time) to bow out of contention for a medal.

It was a heartbreaking result for Obiena, who started the final by comfortably clearing the 5.50-meter and 5.70-meter.

He faulted for the first time at 5.80 meters and opted to skip his next attempt.

Obiena proceeded to clear 5.85 meters and 5.90 meters, raising hopes that he could make it to the Top 3.

But the Filipino athlete faltered thrice at 5.95 meters, gaining good height each time but clipping the bar on his way down.

It is still an improvement from his 11th place finish in the Tokyo Games in 2021, but an Olympic medal remains elusive for Obiena.

Sweden’s Armand Duplantis lived up to expectations by retaining the gold medal in record-breaking fashion.

“Mondo” easily cleared 5.70-meter, 5.85-meter, 5.95-meter, and was the only vaulter to clear the six-meter mark in the final.

He proceeded to shatter the old Olympic record of 6.03 meters, set by Brazil’s Thiago Braz in Rio de Janeiro 2016, as he soared over the bar at 6.10 meters.

But Duplantis wasn’t done. He had the bar raised to 6.25 meters — a new world record height.

After faulting in his first two attempts, the Swede showed great composure in clearing the bar on his third and final try — before rushing to the stands in elation and celebrating with his team.

Duplantis improved upon his own record of 6.24 meters, which he set in April 2024.

Sam Kendricks of the United States took silver with a season-best of 5.95 meters.

Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis took bronze, clearing 5.90-meter and faltering at 5.95-meter, but opting to skip his next attempt before twice failing to clear six meters.

For Kendricks, this is his second Olympic medal after winning bronze in Rio 2016, and a measure of redemption as he had missed the competition in Tokyo after testing positive for COVID-19.

Meanwhile, it is a first Olympic medal for Karalis, who was fourth in Tokyo.

Obiena had to overcome a nervy start to advance to the finals, having twice failed to clear 5.60 meters in the qualifiers last Saturday, August 3.

With his Olympic hopes hanging in the balance, Obiena produced a clutch moment as he raised the bar to 5.70-m and cleared it to stay in the hunt.

Obiena then soared over the bar at 5.75 meters to secure his place in the finals along with 11 other vaulters.

The 28-year-old Obiena registered his season-best of 5.97 meters last June in Poland. (ABS-CBN News)