Pole vault-favorite Duplantis sails through final in Paris

Pole vault star Armand Duplantis easily advanced through the qualifiers at the Stade de France on Saturday, solidifying his status as the favorite to win his second Olympic gold at the Paris Games.

The 24-year-old defending champion, who has set the world record eight times, most recently with a 6.24-meter jump in April in Xiamen, showed his prowess by effortlessly clearing the bar on his two attempts, while conserving energy for the final.

Youngest to clear 6m at the age of 18 (2018)
Holds 8 World Records
Current World Record Holder, 6.23m
Clears 6m in 61 competitions
World’s #1 Male Pole Vaulter

SWEDEN’s ARMAND DUPLANTIS.

Making it look so easy. Damn. The clearance. pic.twitter.com/pbw3QZv9ot

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Dressed in the Swedish team colors of yellow and blue, Duplantis opted to sit out the first attempt, spending the time stretching, using a foam roller, and chatting with his U.S. rival, Sam Kendricks. His strong performance and confidence hinted at a possible record attempt in the final, scheduled for Monday. “It’s no coincidence that I’m a favorite,” Duplantis remarked, expressing excitement about competing in front of a lively crowd, a stark contrast to the spectator-less Tokyo Olympics due to the pandemic.

The competition for the second spot on the podium became more open after Tokyo silver medalist Christopher Nilsen failed to qualify, visibly disappointed after failing to clear 5.60 meters, well below his personal best of 6.05 meters.