EJ Obiena celebrates Christmas with family for the first time in eight years

Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena is celebrating the Christmas season with his family for the first time in eight years.

Obiena is currently in the Philippines following his recent stint at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, where he captured his fourth SEA Games gold medal.

“After eight years of celebrating Christmas away from home, finally one with the fam,” Obiena wrote in the caption of his social media post on Thursday, Christmas Day.

“Merry Christmas, everyone, from my family to yours.”

He also shared a family holiday tradition that, according to him, has never changed.

“Some things never change. We still spend it at the track.”

It has been a challenging season for Obiena following the diagnosis of a back injury last year. Despite this, he still ruled competitions such as the Asian Athletics Championships in Korea last May and the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge held in the Philippines last September.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News