Armand Duplantis has remained injury free his entire career.
But now he talks honestly about his physical status before the Olympics – and it’s not what anyone expected.
– That’s kind of half the point of being an athlete, he says.
Armand Duplantis has taken pole vaulting to a whole new level and it often feels like he is competing in a sport of his own. While his competitors find it difficult to even reach up to six meters, Mondo beats the height in competition after competition, and despite his young age, he has already won everything there is to win.
Incredible detail
Duplantis continues to chase new world records and competition records, and when the Olympics are decided in a few weeks, the talk is more about whether he will break a new world record, than whether he will win another gold. There’s a lot to admire about Armand Duplantis, but his complete lack of injuries is definitely one such thing.
Mondo has had the luxury of staying injury-free throughout his career, despite the fact that pole vaulting is a strenuous sport, with quick jerks and many muscles active. Despite that, Duplantis can compete in any competition he wants, and there aren’t exactly a few galas who want the best pole vaulter of all time with them. The athletics season is traditionally not that long, but for Mondo it is usually extended due to all the competitions he is invited to.
“All the time so…”
So how is it that Duplantis managed to keep his body so fresh through all the hard training and competitions.
– I do a lot of sprint training and pole vaulting, which is a pretty brutal sport for the body, Duplantis tells UNT.
But Armand Duplantis admits at the same time, with only weeks to go until the Olympics, that the body is not completely at one hundred, and that is something that no one really expected.
– Yes, all the time, says Duplantis when asked if he has any feelings.
– But over the years, you’ve gotten a better handle on your body and you know which things you can push through and which type of “tightness” you should be a little more careful with. Me, mom and dad have learned to keep a good eye on what to take seriously and what we can push through. It is important to have a good relationship with the body. But that’s kind of half the point of being an athlete, keeping track of your body.
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