Obiena out for the season with fractured spine

MANILA, Philippines —  “I’ll be back.” 

Filipino pole-vault star EJ Obiena made this vow last night after being diagnosed with a fractured spine that prematurely cut short his post-Olympic season.

Obiena said the back pain that has bothered him the whole season flared up during the Silesia Diamond League in Chorzow, Poland just last weekend, forcing him to go to the doctors and submit for tests. The result he got wasn’t good.

“Due to continual spasms, I couldn’t finish my last few attempts. I immediately went to my doctor in Italy, and the MRI revealed what appeared to be a stress fracture in my spine,” said the World No. 3 in a social media post.

“Unfortunately, a later CT scan confirmed the diagnosis, I have a fractured L5 vertebra,” he added.

The injury will require Obiena to heal for at least four weeks, which will basically cover the rest of the 2024 seasons, meaning he would have to skip the ISTAF in Berlin, the Zurich Diamond League and the Diamond League Finals bridging this month and the next.

It also meant the planned international pole vault event Obiena was organizing and to host in the Philippines late next month would have to be cancelled.

“To avoid worsening the fracture, I shall prudently cancel my season, including the Philippine Pole Vault competition scheduled for Sept. 20,” he said.

The Asian champion and record-holder vowed to bounce back stronger next year.