Seeing EJ Obiena get all the love he’s been receiving recently feels correct.
Related: All The Times EJ Obiena Stood Up For What’s Right
EJ Obiena didn’t win a medal at the Paris Olympics. But with the attention he’s been receiving lately, he might as well have won one. His valiant effort at the 2024 Olympics saw the Filipino vaulter finish 4th. And while it was a bittersweet miss from the podium, EJ has taken it in stride, and many Filipinos have been rallying around the athlete to show their support and then some. In case you haven’t noticed, EJ has become Filipinos’ newest bias, with many calling him the Nation’s Boyfriend (yes, he is taken and has been off the market for four years now).
If those fan edits of EJ soundtracked to Randomatic by James Reid or old clips of Mimiyuuuh simping over him going viral on social media recently have taught us anything, it’s that EJ has been enjoying a deserved lap around the public spotlight as more people see him for the stand-up guy that he is. Scroll down for a few reasons why EJ is an athlete and individual worth the hype.
HE ADVOCATES FOR THE SPORT
Pole vaulting is not a popular sport in the country. And with the lack of attention it gets, it would be understandable if people don’t pursue it. But EJ is built different. After taking on the sport from his father, EJ climbed the ranks to be not only the country’s best vaulter but also one of the best vaulters in the world.
He then parlayed his success in the sport to give back to the community by helping fund and raise awareness for pole vaulting in the Philippines, often talking about the support it needs locally so that future generations can have opportunities. It’s clear this is more than just personal success for EJ, but also the betterment of athletes like him.
HIS TALENTS GO BEYOND POLE VAULTING
EJ being one of the best pole vaulters in the world is already enough, but the fact that his talents extend as long as the poles he uses, ok king. Aside from athletics, EJ is also a talented artist and likes to draw in his free time. He also is a bit of a writer and was even featured as a guest columnist on The Philippine Star. We might have to stan even more now.
HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT TO SAY
It needs to be said how confident EJ is when it comes to expressing himself. If you read any of his well-written posts or watch his interviews, you can see that he takes his time to say what he needs to say. Those paragraphs he wrote sharing his thoughts following the Paris Olympics were so clear and concise, it read like he was talking directly to us. From how he speaks, writes, and carries himself in general, he has that assuredness that we all aspire to have.
HE APPRECIATES THE SUPPORT HE GETS
One thing about EJ Obiena, he will always show his love to his supporters and the people close to him. Remember when he wore socks that had the faces of his parents and coach on them at the Paris Olympics? Yeah, EJ’s heart is as big as his achievements. From responding to DMs on Instagram to signing autographs at the stadium, EJ is known to be appreciative of his fans and vocal about how the love he gets motivates him to keep going. We love how despite the heights EJ has achieved (literally and figuratively), he’s still humble and appreciates things as simple as fan messages on social media.
HE HAS A SENSE OF HUMOR
Do you know what’s better than a tall, smart, athletic, and well-spoken moreno? A tall, smart, athletic, and well-spoken moreno who has a sense of humor. If the cool and colorful socks he wears to competitions are any indication, EJ knows how to have fun and get in on the jokes and memes. It’s this personality that saw him, among other things, share a TikTok video on his Instagram stories of a netizen lightheartedly comparing him to the pole vault zombie from Plants vs. Zombies.
HE’S A MAN OF PRINCIPLE
All the love EJ Obiena has been receiving has us going “Dasurv!” But it’s important to know that his journey hasn’t always been smooth sailing. From facing accusations from his own sports association, having to defend his name from smear and harassment campaigns, suffering financial woes that affect his participation in international competitions, and more, EJ has been unfairly treated. It reached a point where he was offered the chance to compete for another country.
Yet, despite it all, not only has EJ continued to compete under the Philippine flag, but he’s also stood steadfast as an icon of true sportsmanship. “I see these statements on social media and active encouragement to switch allegiances. But this is not who I am and why I do this. I want to win for the Philippines and show the world what we can do. I want to win for us,” EJ once said. When it seemed better for EJ to go on a different path, he stood by his principles. An honorable Filipino indeed and a reminder that Filipino athletes do not deserve to be treated the way EJ has been.
HE’S NOT AFRAID TO OPEN UP ABOUT HIS EMOTIONS
People assume that athletes are tough guys who aren’t supposed to show weakness and project an aura of invincibility. But EJ is proving that showing vulnerability doesn’t make you any less of an athlete. It’s another quality of his that makes him so loved with how he’s vocal about sharing his struggles and thoughts as an athlete.
EJ doesn’t sugarcoat the good and the bad, like when he opened up about his feelings after his 4th-place finish at the Paris Olympics. “4th place is painful to say the least; and in sports with three podium places, perhaps 4th is the harshest place to be. I am heartbroken that a single failure cost me and cost a nation I so deeply love—the podium,” he wrote. EJ’s been through it, and he’s showing fans that, while it’s normal to tumble, what matters is that you get up and be a better person.
Photos taken from EJ Obiena’s Instagram
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