It took two years and 51 attempts for Mundo Duplantis to break the curse at the 6.19 world record.
Now a new curse may be about to be broken.
Constant bad weather.
The forecast is finally pointing to great athletics weather at Stockholm Stadium on Thursday.
After all attempts at a new world record high of 6.19, that curse was broken in Belgrade last winter. And just a week later, he raised the world record to 6.20 at the indoor World Cup in Belgrade itself.
Will he get another chance to jump to world heights at the Bauhaus Gala on Thursday?
It seems so.
On Monday, the SMHI forecast indicated a new “Mondo weather” and a heavy rain cloud hanging over the Stockholm stadium on competition night.
But on Tuesday it was blown away and just in time for the competition to begin, the clouds and 24 degrees in the air and family should change for the perfect athletics evening.
If so, it’s a first for Mundo this season outdoors.
He said after his last wet night in Bislet in Oslo:
– Now I really wish the sun and good weather in Stockholm. I long for perfect conditions and to be able to jump well in front of the home crowd.
And after the temporary jump into SM last Tuesday, he said:
I’m in good shape with such a short time until the World Cup. I know I can jump really high under the right conditions.
Now he’s suddenly looking forward to that opportunity after a summer of black clouds and bad weather wherever he competes.
Forced to move indoors due to storms at the outdoor premiere in Doha, the pole vault had moved to Eugene City, he jumped in the rain and wind in Hengelo, the Netherlands, and managed a 6.02 wet night in Oslo last. .
This is the first time it looks like it’s going to be that perfect night of athletics that he’s been craving.
-Yes, it looks totally cool anyway, and now we can only hope that expectations stay firm, says competition director Jan Kowalski.
What does good weather mean for an athletics party?
– It means a lot, of course, to the public and competitors. Then they get a chance to achieve good results.
Have you had bad luck with the weather before?
– Yes, I remember three years ago, when it started raining just in time for the festival to begin and the temperature rose to thirteen degrees if I remember correctly. Then it will be difficult to do so.
The pole vault at Mundo has a very strong starting field, with world number two Chris Nielsen playing as a contender. The only one, with the exception of Mundo, who has jumped six meters this year.
Not to mention the discus throw as 19-year-old Mykolos Alekna made his Diamond League debut and led the entire world to challenge Daniel Stahl at home.
It might be classic athletics night Thursday, as the rain that would have come has moved on to Wednesday instead.