Armand Duplantis is chasing Olympic gold and a new world record.
Therefore, he has resorted to extreme measures.
– Now he is where he should be, says his manager Daniel Wessfeldt to DN.
It’s not just any season ahead for Armand Duplantis. The so superior pole vault star has an Olympic gold medal to defend this summer, and in addition, as always, the hunt for new world records is ongoing. And it’s clear how badly Mondo wants to get there.
The drastic change
Despite the fact that Duplantis has won pretty much every competition he has entered in recent years, and despite the fact that he is the reigning champion in the WC, the Olympics and the Diamond League, he is not satisfied. His big hope is to break a new world record during the Olympics this summer, but above all to beat the height of 6.03, which would mean a new Olympic record. Armand Duplantis begins his outdoor season on Saturday, at the Diamond League Gala in Xiamen, China.
And in order to reach his lofty goals, Armand Duplantis has made major changes during the spring. His manager Daniel Wessfeldt now reveals that Mondo has lost “a few kilos” to be in the best possible shape.
– It’s a balancing act, he should get stronger without getting too heavy while at the same time not getting too light and weak, says Wessfeldt to DN, and continues:
– Now he is where he should be. He is a “lean machine” and has lost a few kilos.
The plan for the Olympics
Armand Duplantis has plenty of chances for a world record before the Olympics. Next up are two competitions in China within a week, and at the beginning of June he will jump in Stockholm. A few days after that, the EC in Rome awaits, but it is not a priority competition for Duplantis.
– He will probably just mess up the EC. The big goal is the Olympics. The EC will be just a parenthesis in the whole thing. But it is at the Olympic Stadium in Rome and it will be warm and nice, so it will be a good run-through, says Wessfeldt.
Armand Duplantis will also attend the gala in Ostrava at the end of May. Between April 27 and May 28, however, he has no competitions booked. This is when the real Olympic form must be honed.
– There he gets a substantial training period and gets to recharge, says Wessfeldt.
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