PHOTO: Bildbyrån
The icon Michael Johnson wants to change athletics significantly.
Now world star Armand Duplantis is hitting back against the criticism.
– I understand what he wants to say, but…, says “Mondo” in an interview with TT.
Earlier this spring, the running icon walked Michael Johnson out and criticized athletics and demanded immediate change. The American looked seriously at the future of athletics and believed that the whole sport must be made more attractive again.
Duplanti’s answer
Johnson wants to streamline and shorten competitions that are far too long and slow, especially all jumping and throwing events. In concrete terms, he wants a pole vault competition to only take 15 minutes to complete.
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Swedish world star Armand Duplantis reacts strongly when he hears the icon’s controversial proposal – and fights back.
– 15 minutes!? I think it’s the wrong idea. But I think there are branches that are more exciting than other branches. I understand what he’s trying to say. But if you talk about pole vaulting, it’s one of the more exciting disciplines, he says in an interview with TT.
– But they (the competitions) could perhaps be a little shorter.
READ MORE: That’s why Armand Duplantis nods the Swedish national team again – but Daniel Ståhl does the opposite and is widely praised
New record?
“Mondo” can still agree with Michael Johnson that pole vaulting competitions have a tendency to drag on. He also sees that it is being tightened a little more.
– I love pole vaulting, but it takes too long. I wish we could make it a little tighter, says Duplantis in the interview.
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On Thursday night, it’s time for Armand Duplantis to start the Diamond League for the season. And the goal is to give the audience in Oslo another world record.
– It is possible, he says himself.
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