Armand Duplantis is superior in the pole vault and wins pretty much every competition he competes in.
But there is one thing that constantly worries him.
– It is very scary, he tells UNT.
Armand Duplantis usually competes against himself. He is at least in a class of his own in the world of pole vaulting, and for him the competitions are usually more about setting new records and reaching completely new heights than participating in a raging duel with an opponent. When the Olympics are decided soon, he is the clear favorite for gold, in search of a new world record.
Competitor suspended
There are certainly competitors like Sam Kendricks and Ernest John Obiena who can both jump six meters on a good day, but the gold is Mondo’s to lose. This time, Duplantis also avoids facing Thiago Braz, who took bronze in the Olympics last time, and who won gold in the Olympics in Rio 2016. The Brazilian has tested positive for doping and is not allowed to compete in Paris.
Armand Duplantis hadn’t expected that news, but at the same time it wasn’t anything that floored him.
– You always hear things. It’s a small group in pole vaulting and there’s always a lot of talk and a lot of “gossip” about that kind of stuff but you always want to think the best of your opponents. You never want to believe that it’s something anyone can do so it’s still a surprise, says Mondo to UNT.
“It’s really scary”
Armand Duplantis does not have many worries in his sporting life. He is the big star of the sport, always looking for new records. But if there is anything that worries him, it is ingesting something illicit.
– Yes, it’s very scary, so you have to be careful, he says.
And Duplantis is extra careful in his everyday life to ensure that there are no problems. He refuses, for example, to accept drinks from people.
– I get stressed because of everything I drink. I always open my water bottles myself. If you don’t hear the click (when the bottle opens) when you’ve been to Ica, you get stressed. It sucks a little but you just have to be as careful as you can. Because you also want to live life, he says.
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