The last competition before the WC in Budapest took place in Monaco three weeks ago. But it did not turn out as Armand Duplantis had hoped. After tearing his first two attempts at 5.92, he was set to go 6.02, but there was a tear as well.
Mondo finished fourth in the competition and afterwards he told SVT that he had problems with the back of his thigh.
– I think it was just a little cramp, but not much more. It’s not the first time it’s happened. I have to be careful now and take care of my body before the WC, Duplantis then added SVT.
And that is exactly what he has done.
“I was scared”
Before the WC in Budapest (August 19–27), Mondo has enlisted the help of his physical trainer, who recently flew to Sweden from the USA.
– My physical trainer has been with me for the last ten days to take care of my body, says the athlete to The radio sport.
The feeling of cramp in Monaco had time to worry him, but he believes nerves before the WC in August also played a role.
– I think I was a little scared too, because I knew it was the last competition before the WC, so I wanted to be very careful.
“Going to bring back the gold”
Now he is back on the track again.
On Monday, Mondo pole vaulted over a bar for the first time since Monaco.
– It felt great. I feel ready.
Mondo is hungry for revenge after the fourth place in Monaco and now has his sights set high before the WC in Budapest.
– My thoughts right now are only on the gold. With the form I’m in right now, I can take the gold back home to Sweden again.
“Shows he’s human”
The national athletics team’s national team captain Kajsa Bergqvist never had time to worry about Mondo’s feeling of cramping and fourth place.
– I think the result shows that he is human. His own expectations and those from sponsors, family and the world mean that Mondo has a lot on his shoulders, Bergqvist said in an earlier interview to Expressen.
– To maintain that level and sharpness in basically every competition is unparalleled. Now he had an opportunity where it turned out that it is not so easy to jump six meters every time. I think it can be good for people to understand that it’s not just about adjusting the shoes on the track, she continues.
Kajsa Bergqvist on Mondo’s form
2023-08-09 07:46:58
#Duplantis #opens #scared
