EJ Obiena, the pole vaulter, and , the gymnast, are on the verge of making history as the first Filipino athletes to secure slots for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Unlike the need to accumulate points through multiple qualifiers, Obiena and Yulo have the advantage of specific tournaments that can directly propel them to secure their spots in the Olympics.

As long as they achieve the required performance, these Manila-based athletes can secure their Olympic berths, allowing them to focus solely on enhancing their skills in the months leading up to the Paris Games, free from concerns about Olympic qualification.

Obiena has the opportunity to qualify for Paris at the earliest, as the Olympic qualification for men’s pole vault is set to commence on July 1.

Participation in World Athletics-sanctioned tournaments from the aforementioned date will ensure Obiena’s inclusion in the Games, provided he surpasses the 5.82m Olympic entry standard.

This target is within his reach, considering he has already cleared this height previously and even surpassed the 6.0-meter mark, setting an Asian Games record during his triumph at the Bergen Jump Challenge in Norway on June 10.