Ernest John Obiena is satisfied with his progress in the outdoor season after securing a gold medal in the Memoriał Czesława Cybulskiego pole vault event in Poland last Monday.

The 30-year-old Obiena said he has yet to reach greater heights after relocating his training camp from Formia, Italy to Athens, Greece, where he is working with Olympic silver medalist Emmanouil Karalis under vault coach Marcin Szczepanski of Poland and jumping coach George Pomaski of Greece.

Obiena posted 5.72 meters to conquer the prestigious event over British Owen Heard and Italian Matteo Oliveri, giving him his first gold medal since tallying a sluggish 5.42m to finish last in the eight-man field of the Diamond League Doha leg last 19 June in Qatar. Heard and Oliveri finished with similar 5.60 meters but the former grabbed the silver via countback.

Then, Obiena placed fourth at the FBK Games in Hengelo, the Netherlands, last week with a clearance of 5.64m.

“Happy with the progress. The height and numbers are yet to come, but happy to come away with the gold medal here at Memoriał Czesława Cybulskiego. Thank you for having me,” said Obiena, whose morale was obviously boosted by this crucial win.

With a gold medal hanging around his neck, Obiena is expected to come up with a strong performance when he heads to Greece for the Fly Athens 2026 Street Pole Vault tournament on 5 July at the historic Panathenaic Stadium.

There, Obiena will face stiff competition from hometown favorite and world Karalis as well as 2012 London Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie of France.

Obiena is preparing for the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October, where he will gun for a second straight gold medal while defending his Asian record.