Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, May 1 Topic: Olympic gold medals are more important than breaking records – exclusive interview with pole vault star Duplantis
Xinhua News Agency reporters Wu Junkuan and Dong Yixing
At the end of April, the Swedish pole vaulter, Duplantis, came to China to compete for the first time. In two Diamond League events held a week apart, he not only won the championship, but also set a new world record in Xiamen. In an exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency reporters during the Yangtze River Delta Station, Duplantis expressed that he was very impressed by his first trip to China. Looking ahead to the Paris Olympics this summer, he believes winning a gold medal is more important than breaking a world record.
“That (Xiamen League Diamond Station) was my first game in China, and I also broke the world record, so they’re all good memories.” Duplantis said, “I know I’m in good shape, and I also knew this (breaking a record) was possible, but it was a bit difficult for me to come to China for the first time, I had sleep problems and jet lag because China is so far away and I slept quite a lot during the day.
At the Diamond League Xiamen competition on April 20, Duplantis improved his own world record by 1 centimeter with a score of 6.24 meters, and cleared the bar at all heights, showing excellent competitive status. At the Yangtze River Delta International Track and Field Diamond Games held in Suzhou on April 27, he easily jumped over the 6-meter horizontal bar and secured the championship early. He then launched an attack on the ninth world record in his career, but unfortunately failed to jump to a height of 6.25 meters in three attempts.
Duplantis said that not only was he winning championships and world records in China, but the two games were separated by about a week, which gave him the opportunity to visit and experience the unique culture of Xiamen, Shanghai and Suzhou China also opened his eyes. .
“This is a brand new culture for me, with unique architecture and food. I know that I have only briefly appreciated a small part of Chinese culture. It is so worth experiencing and feeling. Only a week is far away. Not is enough.” Duplantis said, “But obviously this won’t be my last time in China. Championships in Beijing, so I think I will come to China often to experience Chinese culture as deeply as possible.”
There are less than three months until the opening of the Olympic Games in Paris As the defending champion, Duplantis said it would be great to set a new world record in Paris, but the most important thing is to win the competition and give the Take. home the gold medal.
He said: “I’m hoping to get into my best condition in Paris, I think I can do it, and then it will depend on how high I can jump. For track and field, nothing is more important than the Olympic Games. Before the Paris Olympics, I guess there are still 5 games left. Continued participation is very important to maintain the feeling of the game. Through the competition, we can polish our skills, find the rhythm and the feeling of using the rod before the Olympic Games in Paris.”
When he broke the world record for the first time in 2020 with a height of 6.17 meters, Duplantis once said he realized his dream he had when he was 3 years old. When asked why he had such big dreams at such a young age, he said: “I’ve always had such dreams since I was a child. I’m a dreamer, world records, Olympic champions, I want the whole. I want it all. I think it’s important for kids to dream big. I always set high goals for myself, and sometimes I don’t , but if you don’t believe you can do it, then you’re doing nothing.”
In four years, Duplantis rewrote world records eight times, winning an Olympic championship, two world championships, two world indoor championships and three Diamond League finals championships. In the men’s pole vault competition, as long as Duplantis can perform normally, there is a high probability that the champion will not be behind. At the age of 24, he has become the most popular track and field star. Faced with applause and flowers, Duplantis was always calm and focused.
“I don’t think too much about what others think of me. I just want to enjoy the moment and keep trying to jump to new heights. I hope to mobilize all my energy and maintain excellent results.” very interested in I have a lot of confidence in myself decide whatever I do on the court, I will make sure that I give my all and devote myself to it every time Yanchao, Wang Hengzhi, Xu Dongyuan)
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