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Fourth placers EJ Obiena, Bianca Pagdanganan vow to come back after Paris Olympics heartbreaks
Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena and golfer Bianca Pagdanganan, who both fell just short of a podium finish at the 2024 Paris Olympics, remained grateful for having represented the Philippine on the biggest sporting stage.
And they vow to come back stronger in the future.
Both Obiena and Pagdanganan experienced heartbreak in their respective tournaments, finishing in fourth place to end their second Olympic stints one place shy of a medal.
In separate Instagram posts, the two elite athletes extended their thanks to those who supported them in their impressive Summer Games runs, but their focus now turns to what is ahead of them.
Obiena said he's back on his feet, sharing he will go all out for the remainder of the season. Obiena, Asia's best and the world no. 2 pole vaulter, said he will see action in the Lausanne leg of Diamond League this August 22 with hopes of maintaining his world ranking.
"First, I am filled with gratitude for the support of all of you, and to be loved at times like this, by the country that raised me," Obiena said.
"I commit to everyone now, I am back in training, I am back in the game, and I am going to attack the rest of the season and make you proud. You are going to see more from me, and see the Philippine Flag raised and raised on a global stage."
Pagdanganan, meanwhile, admitted that falling short of an unlikely Olympic medal sure took a toll on her, but said nothing beats representing the country in a global stage and achieving the highest finish of the Philippines in Olympic golf.
"To be able to represent the Philippines and be a member of the Olympic Centennial team on the biggest stage is a great honor; and something that I will carry with me forever.," Pagdanganan said.
"Masakit na kinapos ng isa, ngunit buong puso ko parin masasabi na lumaban tayo hanggang sa huli. Maraming salamat sa Panginoon sa pagkakataong ito. Lagi’t lagi para sa bayan! Hanggang sa muli."
[It hurts to come up short by one. but I can wholeheartedly say that I fought until the very end. Thank you to God for this opportunity. Always for the country! Until next time.]
Obiena cleared the same 5.90m height as Paris third placer Emmanouil Karalis of Greece, but the Philippine ace lost the bronze due to countback after committing more fouls than Karalis.
Pagdanganan, meanwhile, was just a stroke behind bronze medalist Xiyu Lin of China. The Filipina golfer had her best finish in the fourth and final round, firing a 4-under par 68 to finish with a total of 282. Lin, however, dislodged Pagdanganan off the medal picture after carding 7-under 281.
—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News
