PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Ingemar Stenmark has thrown himself into a completely new sport.
The 67-year-old has started practicing pole vaulting in the autumn of his age.
It has obviously reached the superstar Armand Duplantis, who is now speaking out for the first time.
It has probably not escaped anyone’s attention to the Swedish icon Ingemar Stenmark has saddled up for a brand new sport. The 67-year-old, who is considered one of Sweden’s foremost athletes of all time, has started pole vaulting in the fall of his age.
Stenmark’s initiative
Stenmark was completely superior in slalom skiing in the 70s and 80s and loved by the public like few other Swedish athletes. Now he has found the stick and truly never ceases to amaze one.
– I jumped when I was little and have always been passionate about the sport. I’ve thought about trying it sometime and now someone said “why don’t you try it?”. So then I got to try it and thought it was great fun, he said in an interview with SVT in November.
The article continues after the picture.
Then he also opened up about competing in the pole vault during the veterans’ WC, which will be held in Gothenburg next summer.
– Yes, I don’t know that yet. It’s not impossible, but now it’s more about getting safe with the stick, he admitted at the time.
Duplanti’s reaction
The news about Stenmark has obviously reached all the way to the world’s best pole vaulter, Armand Duplantis. “Mondo” and “Stenis” have a relationship from before and the 67-year-old was invited to the 24-year-old’s premiere of the documentary film “Born to fly” last year.
The article continues after the picture.
Duplantis, who has piled up world records in pole vaulting, is now speaking out for the first time about the legend’s new venture and it is an absolutely wonderful response from the world star.
– I think it’s fantastic! I imagine that I will run into him in Sollentunahallen and can give him some tips, says an exasperated Mondo to the Swedish Athletics Federation.
READ MORE: Armand Duplanti’s first words about the Jerring Prize – after he was snubbed at the Bragdguldet by Daniel Ståhl: “People’s love”
The news about Ingemar Stenmark’s new investment in pole vaulting has also spread outside of Sweden. Recently, Italy’s largest sports newspaper Gazetta dello Sport also drew attention to the fact that the slalom king will now jump over a bar several meters into the air with the help of a rod made of carbon fiber and glass fiber.
How good do you think Stenmark can be in the pole vault? Share the article and have your say!
Share