At the 2025 World Athletics World Cup in Tokyo, many looks are once again focused on pole vaulting giant Armand Duplantis, who wants to set up his 14th world record in Japan and want to get gold again. His special shoes should help him.
On September 15th at 1:00 p.m. (CET), a particularly large number of views of the World Athletics World Cup in Tokyo will be directed. Then the final of the pole vault competition increases in the nation stadium.
On this day, the stage will belong again to Armand Duplantis, who wants to set up his 14th world record and write once again.
In the run -up to the competition, the Swedish high -flyer chatted out of the sewing box and revealed one of his secrets of success. It is a trick that he looked back from hurdles Karsten Warholm and which provides for a small modification of his shoes.
Duplantis “like a sprinter that wears a rod”
Like Warholm, Duplanis also wears shoes that have a small hook at the front, which “digs” into the tartan track when you start. The result: the power transmission is more efficient, creates more grip and more speed.
“A few years ago, pole vault shoes were very flat and did not have the suspension such as sprint shoes. It was a big difference to the shoes with which I now compete,” said Duplantis, who was shaving the concept of the little hook at the head of Warholm.
“I only modified it slightly. It is important to me that it is a sprint shoe, because I feel like a sprinter that wears a small stick,” joked the superstar.
“Small” change for the World Athletics World Cup
Although the shoe has the hoped -for effect, there is also a disadvantage for Duplantis that a Warholm does not feel. “The problem with the catch is that it is very hard and sometimes hits my arm when I jump. That’s why I sometimes have blood on my arm when I jump.” This is due to the “strange and stupid movements” that a pole jumper had to do, added the Swede.
He made another modification on his shoe for the World Cup in Tokyo. Just a “little one”, as Duplantis emphasized. “I have changed a lot so that it becomes a little softer,” said the 13-time world record holder.