Star jumping star Armand Duplantis wants to write history in the World Athletics Championships. In addition to his talent and Mindset it relies on new material.
Armand Duplanis creates something that is almost not to be found in sports. If the best pole vault in the world is at the start, every tension in the fight for victory has evaporated – but despite this invincibility, there is no boredom. On the contrary. Instead, the Swede makes the pole vault to the climax because it flies so high that the spectators get what they want: superlatives.
Last defeat for Duplantis over two years ago
As expected, Duplantis had no problems in qualification group A on Saturday and will win the gold medal in the final on Monday (from 12.49 p.m.) – anything else would be a sensation. Almost 26 months ago, “Mondo” was blown when he “hopped” only 5.72 meters (for his circumstances) in Monaco at the Diamond League meeting. Since then there have been 36 victories in a row, including six world records. 13 are now overall.
Duplantis is actually only about this and just because of this hunt for Records everyone watches him. But the 25-year-old himself sharpens his senses for victory. “There are many great jumpers, and even when I’m the leading one, there are many who chase me and want to have my place so much”said Duplantis of the “Sportschau”. He in particular has an eye on Emmanouil Karalis, who has already crossed 6.08 meters this season. Behind the Swedes, the Greek jumps into a league itself.
Karalis and Co. are waiting for Duplantis’ burglary
“They all just wait for the day I don’t show my best performance and slip. And you will make sure that you are there exactly then and take the chance to outperform me. I have to make sure that I am always there to the point”said Duplantis. He also knows that even with Karalis, he has no chance if Duplanis jumps for records. His opponents can only win if he allows it.
Of course, his plan in Tokyo does not provide for that at the World Athletics World Cup, for the third time after 2022 and 2023 he wants to become world champion, if you count the indoor titles, it would even be his sixth triumph. And Duplantis wants to garnish it with a new sound barrier. “Hopefully it will be something very high. 6.30 meters would be great, that would be a big bang”he said about expectations of the competition in the Olympic Stadium, where he became an Olympic champion with 6.02 meters four years ago.
Crucial advantage through newly developed sprint shoes?
A lot has changed since then, Duplantis and his whole environment have further professionalized. Even if it is still one “Family business” be, as he says himself. His mother writes his entire training program, his father, who himself was a pole vibrator, takes care of everything technical. The truth also includes that a huge team and a lot of money are jointly responsible for the extraordinary performance around the superstar of athletics.
In Tokyo, Duplantis starts with special sprint shoes, the development of which he has participated. “It is obvious that the one who starts the fastest will create most of the energy. I can really feel the better grip, so I can better accelerate”explained “Mondo”. “I take 20 steps, for some when I jumped I modified the spikes a bit.”
Duplantis: “I love to push myself”
The fact that speed is one of his strengths is not only known after his 100-meter show fight victory against hurdle star Karsten Warholm in 10.37 seconds-but special measures are required for his only true opponent. Because he is himself. And on August 12th in Budapest, he set the brand with 6.29 meters, which he is now tackling.
“I love to push myself and get the best out of me. I have this internal drive that I want to get better and better”said Duplantis. He is better than the others anyway. Now he wants to defeat himself again with the jump to a new sphere. A new era in the pole vault is to start in Tokyo.