MANILA — “When it rains, it pours” as the saying goes and it seems to hold true for 26-year-old Filipino Olympian pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena when he got his sixth gold medal after ruling the 2022 True Athletes Classic at the Manforter Stadio in Leverkusen, Germany on Sunday evening (Philippine time).

Obiena leaped 5.81 meters in his second attempt to win the event that dumped his top rivals American Christopher Nilsen and world record holder Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis.

“I am very happy to bring home the (gold medal emoji) against a great field. But on the other hand, I am frustrated by missing 5.95m again,” Obiena proudly posted on his Facebook account on Monday which he entitled “The Chronicles of Leverkusen 2022.”

Sports enthusiasts gushed over Obiena’s sixth gold medal in the outdoor meet and third straight podium finish.

“We have boiled it down to some technical adaptations, which at these heights makes the difference between a miss or a make. Like anything in life, this is all about continual improvement,” Obiena further said.