Armand Duplantis says vaulting 6.40m is within the ‘realm of possibility’
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Sweden's Armand Duplantis in action during the men's pole vault in Oslo, on June 12.
PHOTO: REUTERS
OSTRAVA – Swedish pole-vaulting star Armand Duplantis said on June 23 that clearing 6.40 metres was “in the realm of possibility”, just eight days after improving his previous world record to 6.28m.
The 25-year-old United States-born two-time Olympic champion set his 12th world record at the Stockholm Diamond League meet on June 15.
“I’ve always believed that I’m able to keep pushing higher and of course, I’ve shown now that I’m very, very close to 6.30 metres,” Duplantis told reporters ahead of the Golden Spike meet in the Czech city of Ostrava on June 24.
“I want to keep pushing and I want to get to 6.30m as soon as possible. I’d like to get to 6.40m, that would be another crazy barrier, of course, and that also feels like in the realm of possibility for me.”
The Swede also said that he had been surprised that his latest world record had come in Stockholm because the set-up had not been ideal.
“I didn’t feel like my best, it was probably the worst that I felt for a world record jump, honestly,” he said.
“I felt like I was a little bit all over the place on the day and a little bit inconsistent. But then I hit the right jump at the right time, which I guess is the most important in pole vaulting.”
Setting a world record in Sweden presented Duplantis with a welcome occasion to celebrate with friends and family.
“I did celebrate it pretty hard, but I feel like I’m fully recovered now and ready to start jumping again,” he said.
Off the track, Duplantis also announced that he is planning to release his second song this week, following on from his debut single Bop in February.
“I’m going to drop a song on Friday, midnight actually, so that’s pretty cool,” he said.
The new song is called 4L, meaning For Life.
“I dropped one song only this far but I’ve done tons of music the past couple of years really, so that’ll be fun,” Duplantis added.
“I feel like I’d like to have another hobby, I guess, maybe not distract me but just give me something else mentally.”
He said he enjoyed golf but was discouraged because “in Sweden, it’s super cold”. AFP
