PHOTO: Bildbyrån
It’s time for Armand Duplanti’s last competition of the year.
And he gets to do it without both of his parents as coaches.
Instead, it is girlfriend Desiré who steps in as coach tonight.
Only a single competition remains in the season for Armand Duplantis and his continued pursuit of further improving the world record. It’s the Diamond League final in Zurich on Thursday night and the 22-year-old is looking for revenge.
“Mondo” fell
In the last Diamond League competition, “Mondo” unexpectedly suffered his first loss of the year when he only came second to the sensation Ernest John Obiena from the Philippines. But that won’t happen again as Obiena hasn’t even qualified for the final in Zurich.
Once again, the pole vault star has to do without her parents Greg and Helena Duplantis as a coach in the stands. For the second competition in a row, it will be the girlfriend instead Desire Inglander who takes a seat in the stands as a coach.
– I film every jump and then send it directly to Greg and Helena, she says about her new role to Sportbladet.
– Then they text back if they think any detail should be changed. That’s all I do and all I can do. Some people think I’m some kind of expert, but I’ve never done athletics myself and have no idea.
“He refuses”
But the girlfriend also reveals how stubborn Mondo can be during competitions. By occasionally ignoring her up in the stands.
– Yes, he refuses to come sometimes. He is so stubborn and thinks he knows best himself, says Desiré to the evening newspaper.
If there were to be a new world record by Armand Duplantis tonight, it would mean that both pole vault records were achieved in Zurich. JElena Isinbayevas the women’s world record of 5.06 meters was also broken in Zurich 2009.
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