EJ Obiena expresses regret for losing out on the medal at the Paris Olympics.

Filipino fans who watched the Filipino pole vault star, a World No. 2, livestreamed the competition and were shocked when he missed the podium in Paris in 2024.

After a poor showing in the Summer Games, in which he was unable to clear the 5.95-meter mark in three tries, Obiena apologized in an interview with Boom Gonzalez.

"I apologize, I promised I’m gonna go back after Tokyo and do better. I did, but I would say it didn’t change in my book. Still, I came up short. I’m sorry, I apologize for it," Obiena said as he eventually teared up. "We'll see how it goes."

Obiena was a jump closer to an Olympic bronze medal in the long jump, but lost it by one jump. His performance in Paris was better than his 11th place finish in Tokyo in 2021, despite this setback. In an Instagram post, Obiena thanked everyone for their support.

"I first want to say thank you to everyone who has followed, supported, and believed in me," he said.

"4th place is painful to say the least; and in sports with three podium places, perhaps 4th is the harshest place to be. I am heartbroken that a single failure cost me and cost a nation I so deeply love—the podium," he went on.

In addition, the 28-year-old athlete thanked fellow Manila native and two-time Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo at the Games and promised to come back to pursue even greater success.

@c_edrielzxs [Carlos Yulo] has already made this an Olympics to remember and I salute him. I am sorry I didn’t join him on the podium but I will be back."