Philippine highlights from the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia

For the pole vault sport, 27-year-old athlete EJ Obiena took home his third SEA Games gold medal and set a new meet record of 5.65m.

Obiena was the only athlete in the field who cleared the first height of 5.20m. He continued and then passed the 5.40m and 5.45m mark respectively. The athlete went on and improved his 2022 meet record of 5.46m with a single attempt over 5.55m before topping 5.60m and 5.65m. 

The world-ranked number three pole vaulter eagerly shared his feat with younger athletes in the Philippines by auctioning his customised spikes. 

See also: Filipino Pole Vaulter EJ Obiena Bags Bronze Medal at World Athletics Championships

In a quick dialogue with the press, Obiena revealed that he is auctioning off the customised shoes he wore during the competition. According to the athlete, younger pole vaulters in the Philippine rural areas only use fibreglass poles and sawdust to train. “Anyone who’s listening: it’s up for grabs,” he said, showing the pink and orange-coloured sports shoes. “All money, all proceeds, will go to buying a new pole vault pit or a second-hand pole vault pit,” he added. “If we can’t get the actual size, then we’ll get something—just not sawdust.”

The shoes’ value may increase in 2024 if Obiena takes another title as the first Filipino pole vaulter to place on the Olympic podium.

Read more: Why is Everyone Talking About Filipino Olympic Pole Vaulter Ej Obiena?

In the field of boxing, Nesthy Petecio continues to reign after securing her second SEA Games gold medal. She won against Indonesia’s Ratna Sara Devi in the gold medal match of the women’s 57kg finals via the judge’s scorecards. 

In 2019, Petecio won her first SEA Games gold medal after defeating Myanmar’s Oo New Ni. 

For wushu sport, athlete Agatha Wong astonished the judges with a pair of performances in the women’s combined taijiquan and taijijian events.

She secured gold after she earned 19.263 points in taijiquan and 9.580 in taijijian. In an interview, the athlete bares that although she trained well, she did not expect to get the coveted gold medal as she is currently in medical school.

“I didn’t expect to win because I’m also a med student. I’m in my first year of medicine,” said Wong. “It is not easy for me to balance my training and studies.” 

Related: Hidilyn Diaz: Weightlifter Wins The Philippines' First-Ever Olympic Gold Medal

Carlos Yulo claimed two gold medals and two silver medals at the 2023 SEA Games. On Day 1, he took gold in the individual all-around competition at the National Stadium in Phnom Penh, and silver for the Philippines in the team event. 

On his second day, Yulo was able to secure the parallel bars title and finished on rings behind Van Khanh from Vietnam. 

As of this writing, the athlete has 18 SEA Games medals including nine gold. “The team competition is really making me hyped and the atmosphere as well. I really loved it.” 

For swimming, 17-year-old Teia Salvino grabbed the 100m backstroke gold medal finishing at a record-breaking 1:01.64.

Previously, the biennial meet record for women’s 100m backstroke was 1:01.64.

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