PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Less than a month remains until the World Championships in Athletics.
Where the Swedish hope Armand Duplantis is a big favorite for gold.
But now comes another decisive announcement for “Mondo”.
On August 23, another gold hunt begins for the Swedish world star Armand Duplantis. Then it’s time for the pole vault qualifiers in the World Athletics Championships and it will most likely be child’s play for the world’s best pole vaulter and the world record holder.
Duplanti’s favorite
Three days later, the final awaits and the reigning world champion “Mondo” is once again the favorite to take home the WC gold again. So far, he has also received good help along the way, with several competitors being forced to throw in the towel for the world championship.
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From before, it is clear that both the world number two KC Lightfoot and world number six Sam Kendricks misses this year’s athletics world championships. Due to both of them missing the top three in the recent US polls.
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Message for Mondo
Another omission is Thiago Braz, who won Olympic gold in Rio 2016, due to a longer doping ban. But now comes another decisive announcement that really changes the conditions for Duplanti’s WC gold hunt.
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Also the star jumper and Mondo’s childhood idol Renaud Lavillenie misses the WC in Budapest due to an injury in the back of the thigh. The Frenchman announced the tough decision himself on social media.
“My body does not allow me to compete in Budapest at my best as the pain in the back of my thigh has returned. With the greatest sadness, I therefore have to withdraw from the WC”, he writes in a public post.
“I will use the time to recharge my batteries – both physically and mentally – in preparation for 2024.”
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36-year-old Lavillenie has been unlucky with injuries recently and his absence together with the others who are missing gives Armand Duplantis a real advantage before the World Cup. The competition is very weakened and it will be difficult to stop Mondo from winning his third consecutive WC gold in his career.
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