Golden Spike Deafening Silence and Thundering Applause
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POSITIV MAN
For a large part of your career, you have been
significantly ahead of your competitors. What is it
like to know that you are essentially competing only
against yourself and world records? How do you
keep yourself motivated?
I view the challenge more as competing against
the bar than against other vaulters. My focus is always
on becoming the best version of myself.
This year, you have set a goal to clear 6.30 meters. How
is your preparation for this milestone progressing?
Right now, my training is all about refining my sprint
mechanics so I can soon clear 6.30m. There are
countless details to get right, but if I piece everything
together, I believe it’s within reach.
What does your training regimen look like both
in and out of the competition season? Are there any
areas where you still see room for improvement?
During the season—and also the off season—I train like
a sprinter several times a week to boost runway speed,
while also focusing on pole-specific technique, core
strength, and upper-body work. I’m always chasing that
smoother flow in pole entry and energy transfer, since
every extra centimeter counts.
You work with your father as your coach.
How does this family collaboration influence
your performances?
Being coached by my dad, Greg - a former college
vaulter and my mom, Helena - a former heptathlete
means everything in my training is built around a “feel-
based” approach. Growing up with a pole-vault sector
in our backyard has been invaluable for fine-tuning
every detail.
We often hear about the importance of mental
resilience in elite sports. Have you ever experienced
moments of self-doubt? How do you handle
the pressure of expectations
and record-breaking ambitions?
I‘m aware that I can make mistakes, but I always try
to remain self-confident and try to jump as high as I can.
How do you think pole vaulting has changed due
to technological advancements, and where do you
see further progress in this discipline?
We always expect that things could be improved. In my
opinion, besides good technique, one of the most
important factors is speed. I am expecting the vaulter‘s
around the world will concentrate on this area.
Many athletes have certain pre-competition
rituals—some listen to music, while others follow
specific routines. Do you have any rituals or mental
techniques that help you focus?
No, nothing special on my side. My main focus is on
my attitude that I‘m competing against the bar and not
against any athlete.
You often mention that visualisation and mental
preparation are key to your performances.
Could you explain how you use these techniques
before competitions?
I visualized the exact same moment a thousand times
- world-record height in an Olympic final, so when
I walked to the runway, it already felt like I’d been there
before.
If you could go back in time and give advice to young
Armand Duplantis just starting in pole vaulting, what
would it be?
A piece of advice to my younger self starting pole
vaulting would be to maintain the same focus I had
as a child and still have today.
Thank you for the interview.
I view the challenge more
as compeng against the bar
than against other vaulters.
Being coached by my dad and my mom
means everything in my training is built
around a “feel-based” approach.