Pole vault world record holder Armand “Mondo” Duplantis is eyeing a fifth straight Diamond League crown when the finals get underway Wednesday in Zurich, just two weeks before the world championships in Tokyo.
The US-born Swede has been in spectacular form, breaking his own world record for the 13th time with a 6.29m clearance in Budapest earlier this month. “I have to stay locked in, I can’t let up,” Duplantis said. On the growing attention around his discipline, he added, “High expectations are better than none, it means people are watching and enjoying our sport.”
When asked about the prospect of clearing 6.30m, he kept his focus pragmatic. “If I feel great on the day and everything clicks, I’ll go for it. Doing it in Zurich would be special, but Tokyo would be even more incredible.” He described pole vaulting as “a beautiful circus act” capable of captivating audiences anywhere in the world.
In Zurich, Duplantis will be among athletes competing in street events staged on Sechselautenplatz, in front of the city’s famous opera house. The meet also features Olympic high jump champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh renewing her rivalry with Australia’s Nicola Olyslagers. Mahuchikh, who set a world record of 2.10m last year, said, “I started my season strongly, but the key is to peak for Tokyo. I’m going there to defend my title.”
On the track, Olympic sprint champions Noah Lyles and Letsile Tebogo will clash in the men’s 200m. Tebogo seeks his first Diamond League title, while Lyles is chasing a record sixth. “Zurich is the perfect tune-up before worlds—I want to deliver something special,” said Lyles, who finished third behind Tebogo in Paris.
Other headliners include Julien Alfred in the women’s 100m, Emmanuel Wanyonyi in the 800m, and Femke Bol in the 400m hurdles. Notably absent is Jakob Ingebrigtsen, sidelined from the men’s 1,500m after missing the Diamond League season due to injury. The Norwegian instead will prepare in Kyoto ahead of a potential 1,500m-5,000m double in Tokyo.
Be the first to comment