At 21 he is already a star of world athletics, and after beating the legendary world record of Bubka in the auction, the 6.14 which lasted since '94, Armand Duplantis lands at the Olympics. "I have nothing to worry about - said the Swede before embarking for Tokyo - I'm in ideal shape, and my goal is not a new world record; I'm ready to go and do what I want to do", that is to win they.
"I'm sorry there is no public, competing with a full stadium would have been more exciting - continued Duplantis - but all the past year I have been training and competing without crowds, so in a way I got used to it: it won't be. a novelty neither for me nor for the other athletes. And in any case I can't do anything about it ".
Duplantis, born in the United States of an American father - Greg, an assistant with a staff of 5.80 and now his coach - and a Swedish mother - the heptathlete Helena, divides his time between Sweden and Louisiana and was vaccinated at Covid in the States, where he train. "Winning is really the only goal - he said - In a dream world I would like to go to beat the world record and do something very legendary at the Games. But these are my first Olympics, they already crown a dream of childhood, and winning is really the only thing I have in mind ". Duplantis faces tough competition from American Sam Kendricks, two-time world champion and bronze medalist in Rio, and Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie, 2012 Olympic gold medalist who won silver four years later. "As a child I was a big fan of his - admitted Duplantis - I learned from him, and now I challenge him: it's beautiful, for a boy like me. And to say that Lavillenie has gone from idol to rival, and is now a friend. I would say that Renaud mentored me, an older brother. "And usually the little ones have ambitions to overtake.
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