TOKYO - EJ Obiena's campaign in the men's pole vault finals at the Tokyo Olympics ended in controversial fashion on Tuesday night at the New Olympic Stadium.
EJ Obiena at Tokyo Olympics
Obiena, who cleared 5.70 meters on his third try to advance, twice missed at 5.80m and aborted his third and final attempt twice over a dispute with officials.
After he won an appeal and got cleared for a third jump, the 25-year old Obiena just missed clearing the bar to the disappointment of his team.
The Tondo-born pole vaulter finished 11th with a best effort of 5.70m in the event ruled by world record-holder Arman Duplantis on a 6.02m effort.
Duplantis, the only entry to breach the 6-meter barrier on a windy night, also tried to break his own world record by going for 6.19m after he wrapped up the gold. He missed,
American Christopher Nilsen finished with the silver with his 5.87m effort while former Olympic champion and Obiena practice partner Thiago Braz got the bronze on 5.87m.
Obiena's personal best was 5.87m but he never got a chance at that height as he missed all his three chances at 5.80m, the last one in dramatic fashion.
The Italy-based jumper twice aborted jumps for some reason. There has been no official word from the Obiena camp on what it was amid speculations that the bone of contention was about the bar and timer.
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