Armand Duplantis is chasing another WC gold.
But he also has high hopes for a new world record.
– It is time for that, he says.
Armand Duplantis is not only the super favorite when the WC in pole vaulting is decided this week. It would have been a huge sensation if the Swede didn’t win, given that he barely lost a single competition in recent years.
Beautiful promise
Every time Duplantis doesn’t jump the highest during a competition – and it’s admittedly not often – the athletics world drops its jaw. The last time the World Cup was decided, it was expected to be a first gold for Mondo, who took the opportunity to improve his world record from the speed alone. This season, he has had difficulty reaching those heights, but ahead of this year’s championship, hopes are high.
Armand Duplantis says he is in good shape ahead of the WC, and that he has his sights set on great heights.
– For me… I know that anything above 6.10 is very possible. I know I should be in shape to go for a new world record. To 100 percent. It’s time for that. That’s when I have the best energy, and I feel the best, when there are competitions that matter a lot, he tells Radiosporten.
READ MORE: Armand Duplantis in stormy weather in the middle of the Athletics World Championships – forced to act after strong criticism of the undressed image
“Then we’ll try something”
Armand Duplantis admits, however, that he is not primarily thinking about how high he will jump – but only about what medal he will win.
– I don’t focus so much on heights, right now. First there is the gold. We are focusing on it a little more right now, then if I win the gold, then we can try something, he says.
Armand Duplantis has also admitted that he had concerns before the WC. During the race in Monaco earlier in the summer, Mondo suffered a thigh cramp, which caused him to miss out on victory in the race. After receiving help from a specialist, he has now sorted out the problems in his body, and he says that he is “exactly where he wants to be”.
READ MORE: Armand Duplanti’s drastic action after the big shock before the World Cup: “It got him sorted”