Photo: Bildbyrån
Armand Duplantis is by far the best pole jumper in the world.
He is almost impossible to beat for all his competitors.
Now rival Sam Kendricks says what many Swedes must hear.
There is no doubt about who is the big giant in pole jump. Swedish world star Armand Duplantis Has in just a few years completely conquered the sport and lined up gold medals and world records.
Duplanti’s greatness
American Sam Kendricks Was once the world’s best pole jumper and won the World Cup gold in both 2017 and 2019. But then the big paradigm shift and the era for “Mondo” took over.
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At the press conference after the World Cup final 2019, gold medalist Kendricks was clear with what was waiting. When asked if it was a world record that waited here next, he answered as follows.
– I said, “No, I leave it to Mondo,” he says in an interview with Dagens Nyheter.
– Because I also realize that this sport is a matter of place and time.
Kendrick’s message
Since then, Sam Kendricks has had to settle for silver medals at its best at major championships. And Armand Duplantis has won two Olympic golds, four World Cup golds and four European Championship gold and set a total of eleven world records during his career.
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The American Kendricks then hears about the so -called “Jantelagen” and immediately starts thinking about the rival and friend Mondo.
– You can’t expect an athlete to do both. You want us to talk humbly and perform fantastic. Sure, maybe you can do both. But then you can’t call anyone a failure unless he achieves anything. If you do not allow me to talk big, you cannot be dissatisfied if I do not succeed, Sam tells the newspaper.
– As an athlete, you don’t get here without an ego. Not an ego that claims that I am better than anyone, but an ego that says I am better than myself. That’s how this sport works. I’m not trying to score on anyone. I try to defeat myself.
Then Kendricks turns to the entire Swedish people with a clear call for Duplantis. To let the pole jump star be herself.
– One thing I have to say. I love all Swedes. But do not try to cushion Mondo, says the spelling jumper from the United States in the interview.
– He’s like me. If you remove him from the pole jump, then all this “jantelag thing” disappears. It is when you set restrictions on him that he says, kind of: “I guess maybe I will set a world record, the motivation is there …” He should not talk like that!
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