Eugene. Mundo Duplantis made a bid in the qualifiers after which all competitors gave up on challenging the Swede in the Pole Final.
Everyone except Chris Nielsen.
– I can definitely jump 6.10 or higher, says the American.
It was a penis qualification that made the stratification of the stick world extraordinarily clear.
Best of all, Mondo Duplants jumped, which flew high above 5.75. The only other jump that was visible was world number two Chris Nielsen who recently took an Olympic silver and 6.05 indoors last winter.
Others struggled – and have already given up the fight for gold.
It measures 5.75 and is half a meter higher than the crossbar. It is on a completely different level from the rest. Of course he is also human and can make mistakes, but I don’t think that will happen. It will be a battle for back places, says Norwegian foreigner Pål Haugen Lillefosse.
“Second place is first place for us”
Menno Vloon from the Netherlands laughs when Sportbladet asks if anyone can threaten the Swede.
– If someone jumps 6.20… he jumps 6.25.
Are you fighting for second place?
– Second place is our first place, he says.
Chris Nielsen is the only one who thinks he can defeat the Swede.
There is always a chance, says Nielsen, who has defeated the Swede three times in his career.
The last time was in Lausanne last year when Duplantis unexpectedly stopped at 5.62 and had his fiercest victory when he defeated the Swede at the 2019 NCAA US Championships with a jump of 5.95.
– It would be nice to beat him. I want to be a world champion but I don’t want to be just because he has a bad day. If I’m going to win it shouldn’t be under the circumstances, then we should have a good day and I should be better. Or we have a really good day and I rise in the first and he’s in the second, says Nielsen.
“I am ready”
What is required of you if Mundo is a “good day”?
– Maybe I should jump a world record. Or maybe if we both jump 6.05 and then it comes down to who gets 6.10 first.
Do you have 6,10 or more in you?
– Yes, of course. I can jump 6.10. I would just do it. Not sure I will do it this year or even next year but I can do it.
Sunday would be a good day otherwise?
Sunday will definitely be a good day!
Mundo Duplantis also sees Nielsen as the contender. But no particular emphasis was placed on America.
– I know what Chris can do, he has a lot of talent and he is the biggest contender for Sunday. But I am ready for whatever he does. I don’t feel like I have to do anything crazy, I have to do what I usually do, he says.
