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| Armand Duplantis © Getty Images |
It did not surprise Armand Duplantis in the slightest that he was able to defend his Olympic pole vault gold in a world-record fashion, as he had visualized it "millions of times" during his childhood garden practises.
Duplantis is coached by his American father Greg, a former pole vaulter. His family is passionate about track and field and owned a vaulting equipment in their garden. Duplantis hurtled toward them after sailing over 6.25 meters without using any "pre-canned nonsense"; they were all in the stadium.
"That's just overflowed with emotions, freaking out," Duplantis remarked after setting a new record that surpassed his previous best by 1cm on Monday night in front of an ecstatic 69,000 spectators at the Stade de France.
"I've had the good fortune to do it multiple times, but the experience is much the same each time. This variation was more severe.
"It feels unreal, almost like artificial intelligence (AI), when I surpass the bar. That was much more freaking out and craziness."
Duplantis talked of having a "happy reunion" when he remembered how he first began vaulting at the age of four in his garden on a crude runway and landing pad.
"This is the moment that I have seen a million times in my life. Speaking of his world record vault, he remarked, "I mean, this is every time I was in my backyard."
"It's just conceivable that the bar was breaking global records. That was pretty much precisely what I imagined it to be—the Olympic final."
Duplantis was happy to bask in the moment and not be drawn into looking too far into the future after his success.
It was the ninth time the Swede had broken the world record, an astonishing achievement given he is still only 24 years old.
'NOTHING TO LOSE'
American Sam Kendricks, the night's silver medallist, only reached 5.95m, a full 30cm shy of Duplantis' distance.
What's next for Duplantis, the two-time Olympic champion, three-time European champion, two-time gold medallist in the world outdoor and indoor competitions, and three-time Diamond League winner?
"Probably one of the moments where I cared least about the future is right now, soaking up this moment right now," said Duplantis.
"How can I care about anything else? When things align the way they did for me, you’ve got to enjoy those kinds of things.
"I try to enjoy as best as I can."
Duplantis could have waited until back on the circuit for a tilt at the world record, for which prize money is given, but he chose to attempt it on track and field's biggest stage.
"The biggest dream since a kid was to break the world record at the Olympics," he said.
"I've been able to do that in front of the most ridiculous crowd I've ever competed in front of.
"If I don't beat this moment in my career, then I'm pretty pretty okay with that. You know, I don't think you really can get much better than what just happened. So it's dang amazing."
Of his final vault, Duplantis said he was "just trying to control the energy rather than let it control me".
"I didn't really have anything to lose either. I'd already won and broke the Olympic record, I was already Olympic champion for a second time."
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