Since "Mondo" took his first championship medal at senior level, as an 18-year-old outdoors at the European Championship in Berlin 2018, he has declined three out of four indoor European Championships, with the championship in Apeldoorn being the second in a row.
Sondre Guttormsen won in Istanbul 2023 and the reigning champion can take his second consecutive gold when the indoor European Championship concludes tonight. The Norwegian would have liked to see his fellow 25-year-old Duplantis – multiple reigning champion in the Olympic Games, World Championship (outdoor and indoor) and European Championship (outdoor) – present in the Netherlands.
In pole vault, everyone is usually there, always. We compete a lot. I think it's good that all the best are always there, so the best one wins, says 25-year-old Guttormsen.
Focusing on something else
He is brief when asked if he thinks it's nice or good for himself that "Mondo" is not participating.
Is it nice? No, he's a nice guy to compete with. He's not here, so there's nothing to talk about, says Guttormsen and continues:
Is it good? I don't know. There will be fewer viewers on TV, maybe. It's not that good.
Already at the end of last year, Duplantis – who took gold at the indoor European Championship in 2021 in Torun – had decided to skip the championship in Apeldoorn, reported Aftonbladet. He is instead focusing on a shorter indoor season with a few galas and the World Championship in Nanjing later in March. The World Championship outdoors in Tokyo in September is the season's major championship.
Renaud Lavillenie – the former dominant athlete, world record holder, Olympic gold medalist and "Mondo's" childhood idol – respects Duplantis' decision.
"Gives opportunity"
It's not the first time he's missing from an indoor European Championship. We know it's not the same competition without him. It gives opportunity for at least one guy to reach the podium. We know that when he's there, it's hard to match him, says the 38-year-old French veteran and continues:
It's his decision and I know I'll at least meet him next week in Uppsala (at Duplantis' own gala).
The men's pole vault final starts at 16.42.
09.00: Pentathlon, women, 60 meters hurdles: Lovisa Karlsson.
09.50: Pentathlon, women, high jump: Karlsson.
10.05: Shot put, men, qualification: Jesper Arbinge, Wictor Petersson.
12.00: 60 m, women, heats: Julia Henriksson.
12.21: Pentathlon, women, shot put: Karlsson.
15.10: Pentathlon, women, long jump: Karlsson.
16.05: 60 m, women, semifinal: possible Henriksson.
16.28: Shot put, men, final: possible Arbinge, Petersson.
16.50: 3,000 m, men, final: Andreas Almgren.
17.05: High jump, women, final: Engla Nilsson.
17.52: Shot put, women, final: Fanny Roos.
18.03: Pentathlon, women, 800 m: Karlsson.
18.37: 60 m, women, final: possible Henriksson.
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