EJ Obiena, Asia’s top pole vaulter and World No. 3, has addressed misleading stories circulating about him and fellow Olympian Carlos Yulo. In a Facebook post, Obiena clarified that he does not comment on personal matters, not even his own.
“That’s why it’s called ‘private life.’ It’s personal. It’s nobody else’s business,” Obiena stated. He emphasized that he has never made any public comments regarding Yulo’s private life and firmly rejected claims to the contrary. “Any assertion otherwise is outright libel,” he said, underscoring his respect for privacy.
Obiena also highlighted his long-standing friendship with Yulo, expressing admiration for his fellow athlete. “I don’t compete with my friend Caloy and I deeply respect him. He is a great champion for our country and I applaud him. I am proud of him,” Obiena shared.
Obiena urged the public to rely on his official social media pages for accurate updates, calling out “clickbait sites” for spreading false information. He concluded his message by reminding people to focus on supporting athletes rather than fueling drama.
Both athletes competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Obiena finished fourth in pole vaulting, a significant improvement from his 11th place finish in Tokyo 2020. Yulo made history by winning two gold medals in men’s gymnastics, dominating the floor exercise and vault events.
