(UPDATE) ERNEST John 'EJ' Obiena is cleared for take off.The Filipino pole vault ace shared in a social media post on Tuesday night that he has fully recovered from his lower back injury.He is cleared to train for his 2025 season.'Some exciting news I want to share with you all. I'm officially cleared by Dr. Alessandro Napolo and have fully recovered from my lower back injury,' wrote the 28-year-old Obiena, who owns the Asian pole vault record of 6.0-m clearance.'Thank you to everyone who supported me during this journey. I have been MIA (missing in action) here because I have been focusing myself on getting back into shape and be ready by January! Here's to the start of the 2025 season!'That lower back injury, specifically a fractured L5 vertebra, forced the reigning Southeast Asian Games and Asian Games champ to end his 2024 season prematurely.Obiena, the world No. 3 pole vaulter, last competed at the Silesia Diamond League, where he finished fifth on Aug. 26.He was supposed to compete at ISTAF Berlin, Zurich Diamond League, Diamond League final, and even at his planned international pole vault competition on Sept. 20 here in Manila, but his nagging back injury worsened and forced him to not continue.Hence, Obiena, who placed fourth at the Paris Olympics, had to call it a season after 10 tournaments where he made the podium five times.In a previous interview with The Manila Times, Obiena expressed his desire to make a comeback after an injury-plagued 2024 season.'It's been a rough year. I'm gonna be back, I know. I wanna do everything I can. I don't join these big competitions just to participate man, I join to win.'
