EJ Obiena offers historic World Athletics Championships medal to Pinoys: 'Kaya natin to. Kung hindi, kakayanin!'

Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena has just earned another first for the Philippines.

Ernest John "EJ" Uy Obiena bagged the country's first silver medal at the recent World Athletics Championships held in Budapest, Hungary on Aug. 27 (Philippine time).

During the competition, the pole vault star matched his own record of six meters before falling short at his second attempt to clear the 6.05-meter bar.

This is Obiena’s second World Championship medal, exceeding his bronze medal from the previous World Championships that happened in Eugene, Oregon.  

In a Facebook post early this morning, Aug. 28, Obiena thanked his fans and dedicated his victory to all Filipinos.  

"Philippines History ," the athlere began his post.  ", your firstin the history of the World Athletics Championships. Para sa 113 MILYONG PILIPINO sa buong mundo . Kaya natin to. Kung hindi, kakayanin!!!"

"Thank you very much to everyone who screamed here in Budapest and made it feel like home, specially today at the awarding ceremony. Maraming salamat po . You guys made this as sweet as it is.

The 27-year-old athlete was outdistanced by Armand Duplantis of Switzerland, who concluded the competition by clearing the 6.23-meter bar. Duplantis also finished at the top of the podium in last year's games.

Meanwhile, United States' Christopher Nilsen and Kurtis Marschall of Australie tied for the third place with their 5.95-meter jump.

The World Athletics Championships, previously the World Championships in Athletics, are a biennial athletics championship organized by World Athletics (formerly the International Association of Athletics Federations).

Along with the Olympic Games, the World Athletics Championships is the world's highest-level competition for track and field athletics, including running, race walking, and pole vault.