This Sunday at 5:00 p.m. (French time), the social networks of the International Athletics Federation will broadcast an atypical pole vault competition. Armand Duplantis, Renaud Lavillenie and Sam Kendricks will compete from a distance (Kendricks and Lavillenie at home, Duplantis in his usual training place in the United States) in an event where the goal will not be to achieve the highest jump ( no official being able to be present to approve the heights), but to pass the 5 meter bar as often as possible in thirty minutes.
Live athletics is back! @Airlavillenie vs @ mondohoss600 vs @samkendricks in the #UltimateGardenClash - Pole Vault Edition
Sunday, May 3, live on World Athletics channels
: https://t.co/RM40YFM3Qcpic.twitter.com/zMg1lClWaO
“We are going to have a good time, explains Duplantis, but winning is also crucial for me because I don't like losing against them. The 20-year-old Swede is currently the record holder in the discipline, with a jump to 6m18 in Glasgow in February, but he will have a lot to face Sam Kendricks, American, double defending world champion, who beat him during last world championships in Doha last October, and Renaud Lavillenie, older than his two competitors but former world record holder.
A dress rehearsal for Duplantis and Lavillenie
The event called "Ultimate Garden Clash" could repeat itself in the coming weeks (with other athletes), it is in any case the wish of the IAAF.
The athletics season is obviously stopped due to the current health crisis, while the Lausanne meeting, counting for the Diamond League, was postponed last Thursday.
Lavillenie and Duplantis will meet again on June 11, for another distance match, this time more "classic", as part of the Oslo meeting.
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