Today, the new Diamond League season began, with a gala in Xiamen, China.
In the pole vault, it went exactly as most expected: With victory for Armand Duplantis.
“Cant complain”
But not only that: It became a world record.
– It feels pretty good, I can’t complain, he says with a big smile.
“Just what I needed”
After he cleared his first three jumps (5.62, 5.82 and 6.00) in the first attempt and all the competitors pulled away, he requested the bar at the world record height of 6.24. And he managed that – by a good margin.
– When I came here, I knew I was in good shape. I tried to sleep as much as possible to get over the jet lag. Then the weather was good and everything turned out to be exactly what I needed to pass 6.24, says Duplantis.
“Losing my mind”
He cheered big after his eighth career world record.
– I can’t really explain the feelings afterwards. It’s like losing your mind and derailing completely hysterically. It’s always overwhelming, he says, and elaborates further:
– It kind of doesn’t feel like it’s happening for real. When I’m over the bar I end up in a euphoric state. It’s crazy.
Latest record in September
Duplanti’s first world record came in February 2020, when he jumped 6.17. He last, before today’s, was put in the American Eugene on September 17 of last year.
Next up for Duplantis is another Diamond League competition in China, on April 27. In August, the big goal of the season – the Olympics in Paris – looms.
Watch the Diamond League broadcast below.
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