MANILA, Philippines – Gymnastics star Carlos Yulo and pole vault world champ Ernest John “EJ” Obiena didn’t disappoint and hyped up supporters as they brought home gold medals at the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Cambodia on Monday, May 8.
Yulo gave an impressive performance and claimed the individual men’s all-around gold held at the Olympic Stadium. Yulo proved why he is a two-time world champion with his skills at the vault and parallel bars and in the floor exercise, in which he won gold in the 2019 world championships. He ended up with 84.000 points, quite far from silver medalist Vietnam’s Thanh Tung Le (80.450) and bronze medal winner Phuong Thanh Dinh (78.150).
Even more impressive is that Yulo admitted that he only had 2 weeks to prepare but still came to an outstanding finish. He said, “Pressured pero binigay ko lahat ng makakaya para sa bansa.”
Meanwhile, Obiena also didn’t let the rain dampen his spirits as he sprinted his way to the gold medal– his third straight SEA Games gold. Obiena set his new record in the men’s pole vault by clearing 5.65 meters, breaking his previous SEA Games record of 5.46 meters he set in Vietnam last year.
Even with the left foot injury he suffered last week and the heavy rain, Obiena was determined to reach for the gold. “This one’s tough. There’s definitely a different kind of challenge, for sure,” said Obiena.
As of the morning of May 9, the pole vaulter champion brought home the Philippines' 19th gold medal, bringing the country's total to 19. Aside from Yulo and Obiena, the other gold medalists on Monday, May 9, were:
Follow The Summit Express for more updates on the 32nd SEA Games.
— Sally, The Summit Express
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| Carlos Yulo, EJ Obiena won gold medals for the Philippine team at the 32nd SEA Games on Monday, May 8 | Photo Courtesy: Twitter/ Philippine Sports Commission |
Yulo gave an impressive performance and claimed the individual men’s all-around gold held at the Olympic Stadium. Yulo proved why he is a two-time world champion with his skills at the vault and parallel bars and in the floor exercise, in which he won gold in the 2019 world championships. He ended up with 84.000 points, quite far from silver medalist Vietnam’s Thanh Tung Le (80.450) and bronze medal winner Phuong Thanh Dinh (78.150).
𝟏𝟔𝐓𝐇 𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃!🥇
— Philippine Sports Commission (@psc_gov) May 8, 2023
Tokyo Olympian Carlos Yulo clinches Team Philippines' sixteenth gold medal at #SEAGames2023 after reigning in the Men's Artistic Gymnastics Individual All-Around finals!#BidaAngBayaningManlalaro#parasainangbayan#TeamPHIsaSEAG2023 pic.twitter.com/KeetRHbVvx
Even more impressive is that Yulo admitted that he only had 2 weeks to prepare but still came to an outstanding finish. He said, “Pressured pero binigay ko lahat ng makakaya para sa bansa.”
𝟏𝟗𝐓𝐇 𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃! 🇵🇭🥇
— Philippine Sports Commission (@psc_gov) May 8, 2023
A masterful performance by EJ Obiena brings Team Philippines to its nineteenth gold medal win at #SEAGames2023 in the Men’s Pole Vault Final, as he makes a new SEA Games record of 5.65 meters! #BidaAngBayaningManlalaro#TeamPHIsaSEAG2023 pic.twitter.com/2Qh9WvEoVP
Meanwhile, Obiena also didn’t let the rain dampen his spirits as he sprinted his way to the gold medal– his third straight SEA Games gold. Obiena set his new record in the men’s pole vault by clearing 5.65 meters, breaking his previous SEA Games record of 5.46 meters he set in Vietnam last year.
Even with the left foot injury he suffered last week and the heavy rain, Obiena was determined to reach for the gold. “This one’s tough. There’s definitely a different kind of challenge, for sure,” said Obiena.
As of the morning of May 9, the pole vaulter champion brought home the Philippines' 19th gold medal, bringing the country's total to 19. Aside from Yulo and Obiena, the other gold medalists on Monday, May 9, were:
- Fernando Casares in the Men’s Individual Triathlon
- Robin Catalan in the Men's Combat 50kg
- Xiandi Chua in the swimming women’s 200M Backstroke final
Follow The Summit Express for more updates on the 32nd SEA Games.
— Sally, The Summit Express
