Photo: Magnus Lejhall/TT, Jean-Chistophe Bott/AP/TT
After a summer with Olympic gold, European Championship gold and three new world records.
But next year, Armand Duplantis can skip the WC – because he simply doesn’t have time.
– WC? Should I drive?, he says to Upsala Nya Tidning.
It was a successful summer to say the least for the Swedish-American Armand Duplantis24. Not only did he win the European Championship gold in Rome and break his own world record several times, he also won his second consecutive Olympic gold and settled with a new Olympic and world record in the very last jump.
“It will be hard to top it”
After the successful summer, “Mondo” has invested more in taking it easy, at least if you ignore the 100-meter duel against the Norwegian hurdler Karsten Warholm. Duplantis crushed the Norwegian in the duel and had to receive the cheers of the people.
How do you even sum up the best summer of your life? “Mondo” makes an attempt to describe how it has been for him.
– It is always difficult. It still feels like I’m “on the cloud”, but it’s been an absolutely fantastic year for me. It’s going to be hard to top this, but that’s totally fine and I don’t need to do anything better than I did. Olympics and world record on the last attempt, what I dreamed of since I was little, he tells UNT.
During Tuesday’s visit to Uppsala, “Mondo” received the cheers of the people at home in the IFU Arena. Upsala IF’s members got to come to the hall to say hello, take cards and celebrate the Olympic gold together with the protagonist himself. In conjunction with the celebration, UNT revealed that next year’s edition of the Mondo Classic (a pole vaulting gala for the world’s elite) will be decided later than in previous years. March 13 is the date set. About a month later than originally thought.
READ MORE: Armand Duplantis has earned several millions in 2024
– I’m glad that we could do it a little later. It might give me some time and a break. I’ll just be in better shape later on so I think it’s better for everyone. I have spoken to all the guys and we will have all the best in the world here at IFU in Uppsala, says Duplantis.
Can ignore the WC
The gala is organized eight days before the indoor WC in China takes place. It’s nothing that Duplantis has even thought about. He doesn’t seem super keen on making up for the gold at the world championships. It is doubtful if he will run, he has not decided that yet.
– WC? Should I drive? To be completely honest, I don’t have a schedule of what I’m going to do during the indoor season. I just know I’m going to run Mondo Classic and Renaud Lavillenie competition in France but otherwise it’s pretty open and I don’t know what to do otherwise. For me, the most important thing is to focus mostly here on Uppsala and Mondo Classic, he says.
READ MORE: Here, Armand Duplantis and Zlatan Ibrahimovic meet in Milan – new photos of the Swedish superstars
Of course Armand Duplantis has to be at the WC, otherwise it can hardly even be called a world championship can it? You will surely feel the urge as it approaches.
What do you think of “Mondo’s” competition summer? Feel free to write a comment on Facebook.
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