Sarah Sjöström wouldn’t miss Armand Duplanti’s Olympic competition for anything in the world.
Then she did something that in just seconds gave her the first parquet.
– I don’t know what flew into me, she tells DN.
Sarah Sjöström and Armand Duplantis stood for perhaps the greatest achievements of the Olympics from a Swedish point of view. Perhaps many had expected that Sjöström would win gold in the 50 meter freestyle – but she decided late to compete in the 100 meter as well, and she then won gold in a thrilling race. Mondo responded by winning gold as well – but he also broke a new world record, something Sarah Sjöström saw from the first floor.
Left the event
But it wasn’t really meant to be. During the Olympics had arranged a “Walk of Fame” at the Eiffel Tower where the medalists would go out on a large stage in front of an audience, to receive accolades for their achievements. Sjöström was there the same night that Mondo competed, and as the whole thing dragged on, Sjöström was forced to leave earlier, in order not to miss any of Mondo’s hopes.
Sjöström headed to the Stade de France to watch the pole vault phenomenon, but she wasn’t entirely happy with her place.
– I had a ticket, but it wasn’t a particularly good place, so I thought I’d show my accreditation to see if there was an opportunity to get a place closer to the pole vault thanks to it, says Sjöström.
“Don’t know what flew into me”
However, the accreditation did not help Sjöström, who then chose to do something different. And it helped.
– However, it didn’t help me one bit, and I don’t know what flew into me, but then I showed the gold medals. They were in the bag because I would have worn them during the celebration that didn’t happen, says Sjöström.
Sarah Sjöström says that after that she “could have gone down from the stands and sat next to Mondo” if she wanted to. No one asked anymore about ticket or accredetering, and she then found a place exactly where the pole vault was decided, and from the first floor she saw Duplantis write new sports history.
– It was a very good evening, and a good end to the Olympic days, says Sjöström.
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