Eugene. Mundo Duplantis landed in Eugene.
But it was a complicated journey here as the star for the first time refused to bring his most important baggage: the poles.
– It was impossible, he says.
– I just want to say “F**k United,” says Abi Greg.
It is a known fact that a jumper’s biggest concern is traveling with bars just over five meters long. Not all airlines bring them on board and those who do are not always very careful. Briton Harry Coppel landed in the United States with the pole package in full and had to urgently rock new poles for the World Cup.
Fluctuating airline rules were making a difference for Mundo Duplantis when he was flying from New Orleans to Eugene.
We’ve been flying with United Airlines for ten years and booked our flight a few weeks ago but now they suddenly refuse to bring the poles. They just said “we don’t take them”. We finally got to book a new ticket with Southwest. It wasn’t a fun hour, says Greg Duplantis.
Pappa Duplantis is himself an old pole lifter and has also flown throughout Mundo’s youth with the same company for the cause of bringing the poles.
‘Almost become emotional’
– Mundo wasn’t happy but that’s what happened. But disappointed, surprised, and angry, says Greg, he paused a little and went on:
– Actually, I just want to say F**k United. But yes, we are here now.
Mundo admits it was very messy. But with one day’s distance he can laugh at it.
– It’s a little complicated. But it felt like some fun, my dad and I are traveling together like in high school. Lite Tour USA. Then it was always hard with bars, so I got a little bit emotional. Felt like deja vu.
But when you come to your office at the airport and say I’m an Olympic champion and a world record holder and have taken my poles all these years… why stop now?
I don’t know, but it felt totally impossible. They just said no, it’s definitely rocky. We had no chance so we had to book a new ticket, says Duplantis who then flew through Las Vegas to Eugene.
