Nine of the world’s best pole vaulters, led by EJ Obiena, are set to heat up Manila at the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge.
It’s been a lifelong dream of EJ Obiena to bring a world-class pole vault event to the Philippines, to give his fellow countrymen a taste of the excitement of this sport first-hand — and in just a few weeks, he’ll get to make that dream come true.
On September 20 and 21, nine of the world’s top pole vaulters from around the world will be gathering at the Ayala Triangle in Makati City to compete in the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge, a two-day tournament that is a culmination of Obiena’s vision. Partnering with Ayala Foundation’s Atletang Ayala, and the MVP Sports Foundation, they collaborated to mount this ambitious event, the first of its kind here in the Philippines.
“This event is part of the World Athletics Calendar and will follow a street vaulting format,” EJ shared in a previous press conference.
“We are so excited to bring an event such as this to Philippine shores. This has been a dream to bring the world of pole vault into Philippines, as I hope this could inspire future generation of athletes. We also want to showcase the country’s abilities to host such a huge international-level competition.”
A part of making it a truly world-class event is bringing world-class talent to the Philippines. Thus, EJ is bringing along some of the top-ranked pole vaulters! Here’s a list of those who will be competing in the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge later this month.
Ersu Sasma – World No. 5
One of Turkey’s most successful pole vaulters, Ersu Sasma, has consistently impressed at major tournaments. A bronze medalist at the European Championships, he has also finished in the top eight at the Olympics, the World Championships, and the World Indoor Championships. As the top-ranked athlete at the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge, he will definitely be one of the strongest competitors in Manila.
Menno Vloon – World No. 6
Menno Vloon will also be looking to impress in Manila. Hailing from the Netherlands, the World No. 6 pole vaulter has reached the top eight at the World Indoor Championships three times and won the European Team Championships two times. Can he bring the same level of talent from Europe to the Philippines?
EJ Obiena – World No. 7
The hometown hero himself, World No. 7 EJ Obiena, will surely be looking to showcase his prowess in front of his home crowd. After his impressive fourth-place finish at Paris 2024, along with his many other achievements — bronze and silver medal finishes at the World Championships, back-to-back Olympic berths, and a gold-medal finish from the Asian Games — Obiena is undoubtedly set to be the crowd favorite in Manila, especially as the visionary behind this event.
Thibaut Collet – World No. 12
French pole vault standout Thibaut Collet has been a finalist in many major competitions around the world. Among his most notable achievements, he’s finished in the top eight of the World Championships, the World Indoors, and the European Championships. His consistency on the world’s stage makes him one of the top contenders at the competition.
Ben Broeders – World No. 13
The Belgian Ben Broeders became a European champion at the youth level, but he has risen to the top of the pack on the senior stage, too. With multiple top-eight finishes at the World Championships, World Indoors, and the European Championships, he’ll be looking to continue rising through the ranks with points up for grabs at the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge.
Austin Miller – World No. 14
American vaulter Austin Miller has proven himself as the 2025 USA National Pole Vault Champion, where he set a personal best of 5.92m. This granted him a spot on the USA team for the upcoming World Championships, which takes place later this month as well, just before the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge.
Piotr Lisek – World No. 15
Polish pole vaulter Piotr Lisek is arguably one of the most decorated competitors of the pack. He is a multiple-time medalist at the World Championships, with one silver and two bronzes to his name, and has also reached the pole vault finals in the Olympics twice. The former World No. 2 pole vaulter also won two bronze medals from the World Indoor Championships.
Oleg Zernikel – World No. 16
Oleg Zernikel will be representing Germany when he competes in Manila, and brings a wealth of experience from major competitions around the world. As a European Championships bronze medalist, he has impressively won a bronze medal at the European Team Championships, as well as a bronze at the World U20 Championships.
Matt Ludwig – World No. 23
Competing the star-studded lineup is Matt Ludwig from the United States. A Pan American Games winner, he has also been crowned NCAA Champion and has won the USA National Indoor Competition, making him yet another exciting competitor at the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge.
Which of these athletes are you most excited to see in Manila this month?
The great news is that the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge is open to the public, which tickets to be given away for free through a raffle! If you want to get a chance to win tickets, check out the mechanics here. The event will also be aired on RPTV and livestreamed through the Pilipinas Live app, and on One Sports’ YouTube channel!
Banner images from AFP, and Ersu Şaşma, Atletiekunie NL, and STADION on Instagram.