PHOTO: Bildbyrån + Instagram
He was named the world’s second best athlete throughout 2022.
Nevertheless, Armand Duplantis was totally snubbed at the Sports Gala and now he responds to the criticism.
– It is what it is, says “Mondo” in an interview with SVT Sport.
There was enormous criticism directed at the Sports Gala this year when Armand Duplantis – in the eyes of many – was robbed of a prize when Sweden’s best athlete was to be crowned. “Mondo” was there and nominated in three different categories, but had to leave the gala in the Avicii arena completely empty-handed.
Mondo robbed
The 23-year-old had an absolutely incredible season in 2022 with double WC gold, EC gold, overall victory in the Diamond League and triple world records. The Swedish world star in pole vaulting was also named the world’s second best athlete during the year, only beaten by the megastar Lionel Messi who won the WC gold in football.
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But still, it was the skating fan Nils van der Poel who snubbed Duplantis for the Male Athlete of the Year, Performance of the Year, Bragdguldet and Jerring prize. Voices were immediately raised that the world’s best track and field athlete in 2022 should be praised or celebrated in some way during the Sports Gala.
READ MORE: The new developments after the shameful gesture towards Armand Duplantis at the Sports Gala: “I want to apologize”
Duplanti’s words
Since then, Mondo has not commented on the matter, but now he is breaking his silence to give his view on the missed awards.
– It is what it is. I thought before that there was a chance it could happen. Nils (van der Poel) made a completely crazy performance, not only this year (2022) but in recent years, says Duplantis in an interview with SVT Sport, see below.
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Duplantis, who received several heavy international awards during the year, does not seem overly concerned that the Sports Gala overlooked him.
– I have won prizes at the Sports Gala. I’m not complaining and I’m not that stressed about it, he told the TV channel, see the video below.
READ MORE: Elvira Öberg’s surprise after the news about Armand Duplantis – the star is completely shocked: “Huh, is it me!?”
Harsh criticism
The SVT expert and former pole vaulter Alhaji Jeng is one of all the critical voices and he really can’t understand how Duplantis was forgotten. Jeng believes that the 23-year-old was robbed at the Sports Gala.
– That he doesn’t win the year’s performance or the year’s male athlete I think is very strange. It will be little that he is punished because he is so good, there are no yard records he has broken directly, says the athletics expert in a statement.
Armand Duplantis received a small consolation on Tuesday evening when he was named “Athlete of the Year” at the Swedish Athletics Gala. And finally he got to receive an award at home in Sweden.
What do you think of Armand Duplantis not receiving an award at the Sports Gala? Share the article and have your say!
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