The 2025 Finnkampen features Duplantis in a double edition. While world record holder Armand Duplantis, 25, is expected to win the pole vault on the men's side, little sister Johanna, 22, makes her Finnkampen debut for the Swedish women in the same event.
It's fantastic that she's here, she's really been looking forward to it. It was nothing that we actually believed in earlier, but she's had a fantastic year. I'm really happy that she was selected, she deserves it, says Armand Duplantis at Friday's press conference at the competition arena Stockholm Stadium.
Debut as a 15-year-old
He himself made his debut in the Finnkampen as a 15-year-old ten years ago. Since then, he has, in addition to a multitude of championship gold medals and world records, accumulated a great deal of experience around the life of an elite athlete. Lessons that he now passes on to his sister.
I try, among other things, to tell her that she can't take on everything, because it takes so much time. In the beginning, it can be very energy-consuming to always go around and think about what you say in interviews and what you've said, says Armand Duplantis.
I don't care about that anymore, in ten minutes I'll have forgotten what I've said to you. But it's probably more stressful for her.
Parents shift focus
The men's pole vault is decided on Saturday, the women's the day after. Armand Duplantis already knows that the latter event will be more stressful for the nerves.
She represents not only herself now, but an entire country. So it's going to be very nervous. Myself, I'll try to stay cool (when she jumps), but I won't lie, I'll probably be pretty nervous.
The same applies to parents Helena and Greg, says "Mondo". Just that part can possibly be good for his own competition.
They're more nervous for her, so it's quite nice for me. Then they can direct some of their energy and nervousness towards her instead of towards me.
