Armand Mondo Duplantis wants to challenge Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce
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Main star of the 62nd Ostrava Golden Spike meeting cannot imagine his life without pole vault. Armand Duplantis revealed his attitude to this event, his motivation and also a 100m challenge with Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
On the travel to Ostrava:
Travel was as smoothly as it can go with the poles. You know you it doesn't always go that way, so you don't take it for granted when it goes well, so I am happy about it.
On how his season is going:
I'm in the place where I want to be, I feel good right now. I mean I'm in good shape right now - fast and strong - and you know, as far as technically, I feel that I'm where I want to be right now, so I feel good. I feel like I have a lot of confidence going into tomorrow.
On the jumping area:
I mean, it looks nice. It looks like it is in a different direction compared to 2021 - alongside where the 100 metre is, so I think that is a good thing; I think it's better for the wind for us because the other direction was a little bit more susceptible to some crosswinds.
On the starting field:
It's a good field. These are guys that can definitely push those 5.90 to 6 metres, but I still have to go in and do those bars which are no joke. It's always good to have some good guys, because they are the ones who are able to kind of pushing you.
It's just Pole Vault, so I'm trying not to overcomplicate. It's the sport that I've been doing for a very long time, and that I know how to do very well. I try not to worry about anything except me in the bar and it's just a competition between me and the bar. I can't control everything other than that, so I don't really stress or put pressure on myself.
On the jumping 6 metres:
I think this stadium deserves a 6-metre jump, so, first and foremost, I think that's my main goal for tomorrow. Then, we can see if we can get over this, maybe we can push even higher.
On the weather conditions:
As long as you still have a little bit of sun - I don't want to do anything below the 20s - but I think as long as it's above 20 then I think it works pretty well and it's pretty suitable for the way that I feel according to my body and everything like that. You don't want it too hot either
About busy schedule ahead of World Champs:
I want to have a relaxed schedule and I want to centre where I feel really comfortable; and only 'm jumping at elite competitions that are going to prepare me for the World Championships - so I try to be very selective on my competitions before the major championship. I'm only going to a meet where it's a good place to jump, and it's going to help me.
When I was younger, it was more this hunger to try to accomplish these things, but I think I love it just as much and I love competing. For me I think it's hard to imagine life without Pole Vault, it's just my daily life. I really I love when I'm good at it, so I think that says something in itself to be really good at something. When I'm really feeling good, it just feels like nothing can stop me and it's such a powerful feeling that I have inside.
I'm probably a little bit more consistent with those high heights, and I'm a little bit more consistent with those world record heights. I go into every meet 100% and I'm going to leave everything out there on the track. For me, right now, I'm in that kind of shape that I can be pushing world records on any given day depending on the conditions.
On leaving a long lasting WR:
For me I want to make sure that I had the right jump, at the right time, at the right place, at the right height too, so I hope that I can put something up there pretty high, and I think whatever happens after that it's a little bit out of my control. As far as now, I know that I have some room to go and have some high-rise to push, especially as to create some separation from everybody else. I would be lying if I said I didn't want that, and I would love to have that record for 30 years.
On the human limits in Pole Vault:
It is really hard to say, and I guess it depends on other variables. It also depends on the advancement of the technology, and the poles. I think that I'm probably one of the better guys to find out what that business is.
About the 100-metre challenge up against Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce:
I'm 100% serious, if she would really like to line up, then we will set it up because I am definitely down for it. I would really like to see where I am at. I mean, honestly, I have no idea what I can do, so we really just have to see, but I would love to do it.
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