Renaud Lavillenie returned to the top this Sunday during the Perche en or meeting, organized in Tourcoing. The 34-year-old French pole vaulter crossed a bar of 6.02m, allowing him to establish the best world performance of the year.
Renaud Lavillenie confirms his very good start to the year. Author of a jump to 5.92m in Bordeaux in mid-January for his comeback, the 2012 Olympic champion achieved this Sunday the best world performance of 2021.
In Tourcoing, during the Perche en Or meeting, Renaud Lavillenie crossed 6.02m on his first attempt, exceeding the symbolic bar of 6 meters, which he had been waiting to cross for nearly five years. The 34-year-old Frenchman had not achieved such a performance since the indoor world championships in Portland on March 17, 2016.
“I didn’t expect to be 6 meters so early. I’m not going to complain. I didn’t have an ideal background with a great competition two days ago. I didn’t know how I was going to recover, a Lavillenie explained this Sunday on RMC. When everything wants to smile, you shouldn’t deprive yourself of it. I’m on a good foundation. The jump I made today is more than encouraging. a little work. From there to looking for the world record, I don’t think, but I think I will be able to do 6.05m or even better by the end of the season. The hardest part now will be to maintain the level. I’m having so much fun. “
Duplantis crossed 6.01m this Sunday
The former world record holder won this Sunday in 2021 for the third time in as many meetings, with a constant progression (5m92-5m95 and therefore 6m02). Enough to come forward as a very credible candidate for the European indoor title in Torun next March. And also assert himself as a necessarily credible competitor to compete with the young Swede Armand Duplantis, current world record holder, or the American Sam Kendricks, another contender for the next Olympic Games in Tokyo, which must still be held next July despite the health context.
After several years complicated by injuries, Renaud Lavillenie is back in the spotlight. “The first confinement was effective because I was starting to see the end of the tunnel, Lavillenie said. I was able to put everything back on track. I have hardly missed a training session since last summer and like By chance, the performances come back. I struggled in recent years. I find the Renaud of ten years ago but with experience. “
Before the first deadline of the European indoor championship, Renaud Lavillenie will continue the meetings in the coming days. He will be in Rouen on February 6, and also in Liévin on February 9. In the meantime, Lavillenie has responded perfectly to his rival and friend Armand Duplantis, who crossed the 6.01m bar this Sunday afternoon in Düsseldorf. Lavillenie, Duplantis and Kendricks will meet all three in Rouen, for a first confrontation together on the perch.
