Qualification is of course necessary in championships, but it is a part of the sport that Armand Duplantis does not like all that much.
The 25-year-old understands why it is used.
It is just that it takes such a long time, he thinks.
At the National Arena in Tokyo, the pole vault qualification lasted for almost three hours. During that time, Duplantis made two jumps and spent the other minutes chatting - and yawning.
"Took a long time"
- It felt easy, great. But it took a long time, you know. It was a bit boring, but otherwise it felt good, he says.
- You could have fewer people here, but it's qualification, that's what it is. It's not a fun thing, there are many who have to jump and it has to be like this too. It gives many a chance to qualify and there were some who qualified today who you might not have thought would make it.
After the medals in Eugene 2022 and Budapest 2023, Armand Duplantis is chasing his third consecutive World Championship gold outdoors.
In the qualification, the world record holder started at 5.55 meters and cleared it in the first attempt. He did the same at 5.75. The qualification height was set at 5.80, but 5.75 was enough to advance to Monday's final, which starts at 12.49 Swedish time.
Chasing the world record
In it, Duplantis hopes to be able to improve his own world record. The latest entry, his 13th in his career, is from Budapest a month ago when he jumped 6.29 in the Hungarian GP.
(Emmanouil) Karalis is in good shape, he will push me hard and it will require that I take 6.10 to win. So we have to compete, he says.
But win first and then we'll see after that.
Will it be more fun on Monday?
- Yes, it can be more fun on Monday and then we'll jump a bit higher too. I'm excited.
Eleven more jumpers advanced to the final. Among them are the American Sam Kendricks and the Greek Karalis, who took silver and bronze respectively behind the gold medalist Duplantis in last year's Olympic Games final in Paris.
Anders Wallin/TT
David Hjorter/TT
Fact: Armand Duplantis
TT
Born: November 10, 1999 in Lafayette, Louisiana, USA (25 years old).
Event: Pole vault.
Club: Upsala IF.
Selection of merits: Olympic Games gold 2021, 2024, World Championship gold 2022, 2023, World Championship gold (indoor) 2022, 2024, 2025, European Championship gold 2018, 2022, 2024. Set a world record - for the 13th time - in Budapest when he cleared 6.29 meters on August 12, 2025.
Current: Ready for Monday's World Championship final in pole vault in Tokyo, where he can take his third consecutive World Championship gold outdoors and set a world record for the 14th time.
