World record, WC gold and EC gold, Armand Duplantis won everything that could be won in 2022. Nevertheless, the Swedish people betrayed the 23-year-old pole vaulter who went out in the last thin ring in the Jerring Prize and did not even end up in the top three.
Instead, the award went to Nils van der Poel, who also took home three other prizes – while Duplantis was left without.
– I can not complain. Nils has deserved everything he won here tonight after what he did for Sweden. I will go home and be satisfied with the evening anyway. Nils got the perfect farewell here tonight, says Mondo Duplantis Sportbladet.
Here you can read about the hockey icon’s anger at the Swedish people’s decision: “Embarrassing”.
A top three finisher in the Jerring Award was, perhaps somewhat unexpectedly, the Indy 500 winner Marcus Ericsson, 32. An effort that impressed Duplantis, who grew up in the USA where the classic motor race takes place.
– It was wonderful, I grew up in the USA and I know that the Indy 500 is a big deal. And that he won it, I think it’s bigger than people realize here in Sweden, he tells Expressen.
Marcus Ericsson with his girlfriend Iris Tritsaris Jondahl and Princess Sofia during the Sports Gala 2023. Photo: Claudio Bresciani/TT
Marcus Ericsson and Mondo Duplantis were nominated in the same categories and both went for all the awards – but they didn’t seem to be in any trouble despite that.
Together with the girlfriends Desire Inglander and Iris Tritsaris Jondahl the two sports stars were seen mingling both before and during the Sports Gala.
– We don’t know each other from before, but we met now at a pre-drink and we clicked immediately. They are super nice, says Desiré Inglander The Express and is supported by Iris Tritsaris Jondahl:
– We had never met before, but she is a super nice girl. We just clicked right away. So I hope we can hang out more tonight, she says.
Here you can read about Armand Duplanti’s million rain after the world record.