Armand Duplantis Eyes New Heights, One Centimeter at a Time

By A Staff Reporter

Armand Duplantis, the reigning Olympic champion and world record holder in pole vault, continues to redefine the limits of human athleticism with each leap. As he edges closer to seemingly impossible heights, Duplantis reveals that the battle is as much mental as it is physical.

“You always have mental barriers when you're trying a new height or stiffer pole—you don't know how it's going to feel,” Duplantis said, reflecting on the inner hurdles that accompany each new record attempt. He credits his mental resilience and strategic patience for his sustained success, particularly during moments of setback.

“I think I was always quite good at staying patient. Even after a bad jump or breaking a pole, my coach and I always pushed to end on a good one, something I liked. That’s what sticks with you—the last jump,” he explained. For Duplantis, it's that final, satisfying jump that defines the day—not the 25 attempts that may have come before it.

The Swedish-American star acknowledged that the difficulty of each jump increases exponentially. “From 6.17m to 6.27m feels like light years apart,” he said. “Now, it’s all about refining the tiniest details to get that extra centimeter.”