In hopes of redeeming himself after a rough finish in the Paris Olympics, Thomasian alumnus Ernest John Obiena seems to be back on track.

The Filipino pole vaulter re-launched his journey to Olympic redemption after sealing a joint third place at the 2024 Lausanne Diamond League in Switzerland on Wednesday, Aug. 21 (Thursday, Aug. 22, Manila time).

The current world No. 3, Obiena, cleared the 5.82-meter leap in just a single attempt to secure the bronze medal, tied with Norway's Sondre Guttormsen and Australia's Kurtis Marschall who also cleared the bar in one try and had no failed attempts in their previous clearances in the tournament.

Obiena started his tournament run by first surpassing the 5.62-meter jump, skipping the 5.72, then clearing the 5.82-meter jump in a single attempt but the Filipino pole vaulter failed all three attempts in overcoming 5.92m.

Meanwhile, the view from the top hardly seemed to satisfy the current world record holder and two-time reigning Olympic champion Mondo Duplantis as he copped another gold medal, leaping through the 5.62, 5.82, 5.92, and 6.00-meter leap in one go.

With first place secured, the 2024 Paris Olympics gold medalist raised the bar to 6.15m and cleared it on his third try to set a new meeting record.

USA’s Sam Kendricks followed up his Olympic silver medal with another one after clearing 5.92 in his first attempt and failed all three attempts at the 6.00-meter jump.

Jim Lafferty, Obiena's friend and advisor, subsequently confirmed in an interview with ABS-CBN News that Obiena had experienced a recurrent problem in the lumbar region of his spine that began two years ago.

Winning the bronze medal last Wednesday should serve as a confidence booster for Obiena as he is expected to compete in the 2024 Silesia Diamond League in Poland on Aug. 25, Sunday.