PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Armand Duplantis has won his second straight Olympic gold tonight.
But now great criticism is directed at the great rival Sam Kendricks.
– It’s disrespectful, I get pissed off at that, says Swedish legend Miro Zalar.
During Monday night did not Armand Duplantis someone disappointed during the pole vault final in the Olympics. The Swedish world star was again completely superior and saved his second straight Olympic gold in his career in the most impressive way.
Duplantis Olympic gold
“Mondo” jumped with playful ease over all heights and was able to easily secure the gold medal already at 6.00 meters in Paris without tearing even once. But alongside the 24-year-old’s new gold success, serious criticism has been directed at his great Olympic rival Sam Kendricks.
The article continues after the picture.
The American had to settle for an Olympic silver medal in the pole vault final, but his inappropriate behavior towards Duplantis in particular has provoked strong reactions. Kendricks has a habit of trying to psych the Swedish Dominant during competitions by getting close and talking, talking, talking to Armand to throw him off balance.
Zalar’s great criticism
The Swedish pole vault legend Miro Zalar, who is also an expert at Radiosporten, has seen a lot of competitions and is going crazy for the American. Now he sends very harsh words to Sam Kendricks during the Olympic tournament.
– I saw him a few times on air. I think it’s disrespectful, it pisses me off. When I saw him at some indoor competition, he would drag out a chair and sit right next to him. And then Mondo would get up and jump to break the world record and he had Kendricks hanging over him the whole time, says Zalar to Expressen.
The article continues after the picture.
During his active time as a pole vaulter, Zalar often competed against the giant Sergey Bubka. But he would never think of doing that to Bubka during a competition.
– I would never do that to him, but you respect his practice. He’s going to jump a world record, then I’m not going to stand and disturb but help him, says an exasperated Zalar.
– I don’t expect Mondo to say it outright, but you get quite stressed by some bastard hanging over you all the time. I had become one anyway. Leave Mondo alone, I feel.
READ MORE: Armand Duplanti’s absolutely wonderful words about King Carl XVI Gustaf during the Olympics – the powerful promise in Paris: “I have to do it”
But Armand Duplantis takes it all in stride and is not particularly bothered by his rival’s psyching out.
– I’ve gotten quite used to it and honestly don’t think much about it during the competition. Then people started asking me about it and then I thought about it, he says to the evening newspaper.
– If I jump at my best level, then he takes it quite easy. Then he knows I’m above his level. It’s more if I don’t get it right, then he’ll be like a shark spewing blood. But it’s just fun, it’s nothing dangerous that bothers me. It’s actually not something I think about.
What do you think of Armand Duplanti’s performance in the Olympics? Share the article and have your say!
Sign up for our newsletter
Share