EJ Obiena has finally broken the six-meter barrier.
The world No. 3 pole vaulter achieved this milestone on a single try, winning the Bergen Jump Challenge in Norway on Saturday evening.
Obiena also surpassed his own personal best and the Asian record of 5.94 meters, which he set at the World Championships last year in Eugene, Oregon, United States.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympian secured the gold medal, surpassing USA’s KC Lightfoot, who needed two attempts to clear 6.00 meters.
Sam Kendricks, also from the United States, completed the podium with a jump of 5.88 meters.
This result will boost Obiena’s confidence as he enters the qualification period for the Paris Summer Olympics 2024, which begins on July 1.
Starting on that day, Obiena will aim to achieve the qualifying standard of 5.82 meters by participating in several tournaments, including the Asian Championships in Pattaya, Thailand, the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, and the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
