It’s all about speed, says pole-vaulter supreme Armand Duplantis

TOKYO – Armand “Mondo” Duplantis says the key to his pole vault domination in recent years is his speed on the runway and, unlike most of his predecessors in the event, he wears specially-developed sprinting spikes to enhance it.

The Swede chalked up his 13th world record when he cleared 6.29 metres in August and will be seeking a third successive world title when the competition begins in Tokyo on Sept 13.

Speaking at a Puma event in the city on Sept 11, he said he has long had a close involvement in the evolution of his shoes.

“It’s super important from the innovation side, and I’ve been so thankful to the Puma family for letting me just have a really big voice in what I want and what I need,” he said.

“It’s such a different shoe that I compete in now from the first shoe that we had. I really like the development of the Nitrofoam, but also just the shape and everything that’s needed for me.”

Analysis from the event has shown that Duplantis approaches the bar way faster than any of his rivals, only two of whom – Emmanouil Karalis and Chris Nilsen – have even cleared six metres in 2025.

“It’s very obvious that the one who is fastest on the runway and creates the most energy, that’s probably the one who is going to jump the highest,” added Duplantis.

“Historically the pole vault spike was super-flat, and I think people were too hyper-fixated maybe on the take-off point and kind of miscalculated versus the speed.

“I take 20 steps, and that’s only the last step. So really it was just making it almost into a sprint spike with a little bit of a modification for a pole-vault sole for that extra support for the take-off.”

Eagle-eyed fans wondering if Duplantis will go for the world record in Tokyo, as he did at the 2024 Paris Olympics, should focus on his feet to see if he is sporting the “claw” version of his spikes that come out for special occasions.

“I could really feel the benefit from the very beginning, just that extra little tiny grip and the way that I’m able to push in the first few steps and build up speed with it,” he said of the claw.

“Sometimes I catch my hand on like the inversion part of the jump, so if you ever see blood on me, it’s because of that. So that’s why I don’t do it every time, but when they come out, then you know it’s business time.”

Duplantis showed off his natural speed in 2024 when he beat Norwegian 400m hurdles world record holder Karsten Warholm over 100 metres, clocking a more than respectable 10.37 seconds.

“I really did enjoy it,” he said of the event.

“I do mostly sprint training and I just sprinkle some pole vault in because I’ve vaulted for a lifetime already, so the sprint is the main focus of me trying to get better.”

Turning his focus back on the world championships, he hoped that they would be more fun than the “apocalyptic” Olympics of four years ago.

The Tokyo Games, delayed a year to 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, was held under strict conditions, with fans shut out of most events and athletes forced to undergo tests and social distancing.

Duplantis won gold and, like other athletes, received his medal wearing a mask in an empty stadium.

“It was just strange for everyone, very apocalyptic almost,” he said.

“I’m happy to have a more real, true experience, where you get the real meaning of sport, which is bringing people together and having a sense of community.”

REUTERS, AFP