The Swedish Armand Duplantis made history at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games: in addition to comfortably winning the gold medal, this Monday he broke the world record in pole vaulting again.
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Duplantis stated that breaking the world record to win gold at the Olympics was “the dream I had as a child.”
“What can I say? I broke the world record at the Olympic Games, it’s the highest achievement for a pole vaulter. Breaking the world record at the Olympic Games has been the dream I had as a child, and I was able to achieve it in front of the largest crowd I have ever competed against,” celebrated the hero of the day.
Duplantis acknowledged that it will be unforgettable for him to compete in a packed Stade de France, with his parents and girlfriend in the stands, and the King and Queen of Sweden, Carl Gustaf and Silvia, in the box.
Duplantis’ happiness for his triumph and record
After his victory, Duplantis celebrated by doing a lap of the stadium while “Dancing Queen” by the musical group Abba, the national emblem of the Scandinavian country, played.
“I tried to keep my mind as clear as possible, as much as I could,” said Duplantis. “The crowd was wild. There was so much noise, it sounded like an American football game. I have some experience being in a stadium with a capacity of 100,000 people, but there I was not the center of attention,” he recounted.
All this contrasts with his previous Olympic Games, three years ago in Tokyo, when he was crowned before an empty stadium due to covid-19 pandemic measures. “I tried today to channel the energy that everyone was giving me. And it was a lot! I succeeded,” he celebrated.
Duplantis celebrated having decided, once securing his second Olympic gold, to attempt the 6.25-meter bar to seek the world record. “It was the right decision,” he smiled. “I felt like I had nothing to lose. Now I am a happy man, I have no words to describe it,” he concluded.
After completing his mission, Duplantis feels that the effort of recent months has paid off. “I have the feeling of having been locked in a cave for the last three months, I haven’t done anything, I’ve been on a super boring diet (…) but it was worth it, without a doubt,” he celebrated.
SPORTS
With AFP