Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena is back in the world’s top 10, a milestone he celebrated by reflecting on the challenges of his comeback and the pursuit of seemingly impossible goals.

“Crawled my way back to the Top 10 in the 🌎,” Obiena said in a social media post, quoting German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche on the value of pursuing great and difficult goals despite the risks of failure.

“We are so back baby!!!” he added.

Obiena dropped as low as No. 14 in the world rankings in July before gradually climbing back into the top 10.

His return to the elite group comes after he won the gold medal in the men’s pole vault at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, further boosting his bid to return to the top of the sport.

During a Senate Committee on Sports hearing on Thursday, Obiena said he believes he is in a better position to make another run at the Olympics as he sets his sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

The Filipino athlete also discussed his new training base in Athens, Greece, and plans to make adjustments to his training as he works toward his next Olympic campaign.

Obiena, who competed at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics, is seeking another opportunity to contend for an Olympic medal after establishing himself among the world’s leading pole vaulters.

His latest ranking recovery underscores his determination to overcome setbacks and rebuild momentum as he prepares for the next stage of his career.