- Title: Duplantis hopes for 'fun' second Olympics in Paris
- Date: 17th April 2024
- Summary: STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (APRIL 15, 2024) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEFENDING OLYMPIC POLE VAULT CHAMPION, MONDO DUPLANTIS, SAYING: “Yeah, I mean, I think that that's always been I guess a problem, never really a problem for pole-vaulters, because pole-vaulters really like to compete and we, you know, we kind of have to compete to keep up the timing and rhythm of the jump. But yeah, I mean, I think if there is a way to incentivise everybody to compete more to where there’s an actual tour that you can follow more and you know exactly who's going to be competing at all the competitions all the time, I think that's definitely the next step in making everything a lot more, yeah, fan-friendly.”
- Embargoed: 1st May 2024 10:00
- Keywords: Armand Duplantis Mondo Duplantis Olympic Games Olympics Paris 2024 Paris Olympics pole-vault
- Location: VARIOUS
- City: VARIOUS
- Country: Sweden
- Topics: Europe,Olympics,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA00D560216042024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:PART VIDEO QUALITY AS INCOMING
After making his Olympic bow at the Tokyo Olympics during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, pole-vault world record holder Armand Duplantis hopes his second Games in Paris this year will be more "fun" as he looks to clinch his second gold medal.
In 2021, Duplantis took gold at the Tokyo Games, which were staged without fans due to COVID-19. Athletes and other attendees were also required to follow strict rules to prevent any spread of the virus within the 'Olympic bubble'.
"It feels like it's going to be, in a way, my first Olympics. It felt like a little test run, Tokyo, and it was also just a very stressful situation and very stressful time when we had the Olympics," the Swede told Reuters.
"I think that this will be a lot more fun in a way... The situation with COVID just brought a lot of stress, on everybody, and you weren't really able to be as free as you would like to.
"Paris is going to be a completely different experience and it's going to be great. I'm super excited. It's also nice to be able to have family members there that can actually watch you."
Duplantis has won everything there is to win as an athlete and has cemented his status as the world's best pole vaulter with seven world records, but the 24-year-old is not content with his achievements.
"I feel like I have got a lot of fire in me, I'm very hungry," Duplantis said.
"It definitely helps that it's an Olympic year, honestly, because I feel like there's a different level of intensity that comes into the training. Subconsciously, it just happens that way because it's such a big year.
"I feel like there's a lot left for me still to do on the track, a lot of higher heights to go, and I just want to keep pushing myself, keep improving, keep trying to see what I can get out of myself and just jump higher."
Despite his dominance, Duplantis said there was still a ways for him to go before he could be considered among the all-time greats, saying: "I have a lot of confidence in my abilities.
"I like my chances against any pole vaulter now or in the history of the sport. I feel like I'm going to be the best guy on the track always. But other than that, I don't really think about it in that way.
"I'm a little bit too young right now career-wise. I have a little bit more longevity to achieve, to be in the conversation of 'best career'."
The athletics competition at the Olympics takes place at the Stade de France from Aug. 1-11.
(Production: Hannah Mckay, Kai Pfaffenbach, Lindsey Wasson, Iain Axon, Stefan Haskins) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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