PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Once again, Sam Kendricks was defeated in the pole vault.
Now he speaks straight from the heart about rival Armand Duplantis.
– Mondo has always been the best since the day he started, says the American to Max.
It was another historic display of Armand Duplantis on Monday night in Paris. The Swedish world star was once again completely superior in a pole vault final and salvaged a new Olympic gold with ease.
Mondo’s Olympic gold
“Mondo” jumped completely flawlessly throughout the competition until the gold and then raised the bar up to 6.25 meters for a new world record. Then an extreme cheer erupted as Duplantis flew over the bar to complete the perfect night.
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A childhood dream of breaking a world record at the Olympics came true for the 24-year-old. On the side got the big rival Sam Kendricks follow from the first floor when history was written.
Kendricks tributes
Again he was defeated by his former compatriot and the American had to settle for an Olympic silver and the year’s best with 5.95 meters. And last night, Kendricks opened up about his feelings for Duplantis by showing the utmost respect.
– Mondo is really huge. We usually joke that if you can make him jump, you might win. Mondo played his cards perfectly, he is so confident in the role of champion. I’m proud of him. I’m happy to be second best to him, he says to Max.
– Maybe you saw me when I encouraged the audience to cheer for him. Because sometimes when you’re at the top it can feel so lonely, there aren’t that many people you can relate to. Even if he doesn’t need me, I’m happy to support. Because it’s lonely at the top. I know he has a great family and great friends. I am happy to be a part of it and share the memory.
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Sam Kendricks has become famous – and often criticized – for psyching Duplantis during competitions. But it’s not something he does to be mean, instead he has so much respect for his opponent in pole vaulting.
– Mondo’s journey is completely unique. He always stood out because of his talent and his courage. I like to see myself as an inspirer, because I have been inspired by the great masters. I am delighted to be the runner-up to such a positive, fantastic and young gentleman. He is a tiger and I like to fight with tigers, he says in the television broadcast.
– Mondo has always been the best since the day he started. That has been his fate. In 2019, in a press conference after I had won, I said to a question about the world record: “It’s not my destiny, I leave that to Mondo”.
READ MORE: The king’s wonderful action in the stands when Armand Duplantis breaks a new world record causes all Swedes to react: “It means a lot”
Armand Duplantis also gets emotional when he hears his competitor’s beautiful words about him.
– Sam is a big part of my last years, which have been so successful. He has helped me a lot in recent years. There is no one who competes better than him and when he is at his best he can compete better than anyone else, maybe except me… He is both great at pole vaulting and such a nice person. It’s so fun to compete against him, says Mondo in the Olympic studio the morning after the Olympic gold and the world record.
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