Better video:
Better video:
Duplantis set a new World Jr. Record in the pole vault clearing 19'4.25" at the Texas Relays!!
Editor's note: Here is a slo-mo video of the record vault:
fakt chekr wrote:
Lance Espoir wrote:This kid must be on something. Probably his bike for six hours a day. What are you on?
Let me guess... Rich parents.
White privilege = accomplishments don't matter
Genetics and form. His parents were both national/world class athletics AND he's had top level training since he was a kid in a very technical event. HIs form is probably already as good as anybody in the worlds, and he's still maturing physically; His form is going to allow him to stay at the top level for a long time if he's healthy since it's so consistent. His ability to transform his forward momentum into vertical is amazing.
Im sure his Swedish countrymen, I mean fellow Swed, I mean people that live in Sweden are thrilled. Provided any know who he is.
Honestly, why Sweden? Did he underestimate himself and just want an easier guaranteed path to Oly/WCs?
sghe5tys wrote:
Im sure his Swedish countrymen, I mean fellow Swed, I mean people that live in Sweden are thrilled. Provided any know who he is.
Honestly, why Sweden? Did he underestimate himself and just want an easier guaranteed path to Oly/WCs?
Could be both. What if he is proud of his Swedish heritage. Also, the NH potential at a trials is a huge deal in the vault.
Interesting that Barber and Duplantis both are USA raised, but compete for their other countries. If they didn't, we would have 3 young medal threats going into London.
I love it. It gives more US athletes a chance.
Bring Back the 880 wrote:
Wait, I'm not sure what his middle name is...at least he already has a cool nickname so Dwight stones can't give him a stupid one later.
Hah best comment so far!
In an individual sport/event, I absolutely would pick the path of least resistance to get into the biggest events in the world, provided I legitimately had a claim to multiple nationalities*.
In a team sport it would be an interesting choice weighing making a team and the team's potential to do great things. For example, do you choose USA or Germany for soccer? One team is easier to make, the other can win the World Cup. Tough decision there.
*by legitimate I mean you were born with dual citizenship, have lived or spend considerable time in both countries, speak both languages, have a true affinity for both, etc. Relying on "getting citizenship" via a great-grandparent for a country you've seldom seen with a language you don't speak, etc., isn't legit to me.
Duplantis has been on the radar of Swedish track for a long time.
He even got 5 minutes segment on Swedish TV last year.
http://www.svt.se/sport/friidrott/video/videoKlipp-8549380/
Sweden loves jumpers
Yes, it is easier to make the Swedish team, but it is not an achievement, one strike, it is not the country where he was born and competes, second strike, and it is a far, far smaller market, third strike.
He was over the bar so much he might have vaulted 6m or more right there.
After seeing that, I think it is just a matter of months, if that, before he does 6m and has a shot at the world record absolutely before he is 20.
I'm surprised that he gets mostly support on the nationality here when that Greek American female distance runner gets mostly derision for competing for Greece and taking the easier competition. I would seriously be surprised if this kid has more than a couple guys in the whole world for serious competition in the next few years. Think about it. He's at 5.90m as a high school junior, and he cleared it by a ton and he's improved by something like a foot this year. Lavillenie has vaulted 6.16m wr.
His brother has hit .330 with a .401 OBP in a season and a half at LSU so far. He has limited power at 5'11" 179 but is said to have good speed and obviously incredible contact. He was All American as a freshman. And from the article, it seems that Mondo Duplantis will be heading to LSU as well if he goes to college, because all of his family has gone there.
Halviking wrote:
Duplantis has been on the radar of Swedish track for a long time.
He even got 5 minutes segment on Swedish TV last year.
http://www.svt.se/sport/friidrott/video/videoKlipp-8549380/Sweden loves jumpers
After Holm and Sjoberg in the high jump, and Olsson for the triple jump, i guess its high time Sweden has a world class pole vaulter.
Bring Back the 880 wrote:
Interesting that Barber and Duplantis both are USA raised, but compete for their other countries. If they didn't, we would have 3 young medal threats going into London.
Both of Barber's parents are Canadians. Barber himself was born in the U.S. and went to high school here, but spent all school breaks in Toronto with his Mother and considers Toronto his home town. He lives full time now in Toronto.
Meanwhile, Duplantis was born in America (Louisiana specifically) to a Swedish mother and American Father (who competed internationally for the U.S.). He trains and lives in Louisiana. He doesn't speak Swedish and has only been to Sweden for short trips to visit extended family on his Mother's side. I don't particularly get why he would feel more of a connection with Sweden than with the U.S. If he did, you would think he would move to Sweden or at least learn the language.
beautiful video, thanks for posting. his vault looked so good and i love how his arm arcs over, just clearing the bar.whether you like pole vault or not, this is a very special thing that just happened. it's a pretty remarkable vault, better than any other american, pro or amateur or anything this year, and seems kind of like an outlier for high school athletics records. maybe 3:53 mile is in the same ballpark, idki hope he keeps progressing, the american record is 19'-9 3/4"......
MONDO FTW wrote:
Duplantis set a new World Jr. Record in the pole vault clearing 19'4.25" at the Texas Relays!!
Editor's note: Here is a slo-mo video of the record vault:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo_sptJhMNs
Woah. That's really impressive.
As for competing at the international level and which country - don't be a Pappas. Wear Team USA and get the ladies and $$$.
rideapole wrote:
Never Pole Vaulted wrote:What makes him so ridiculously good compared to his peers? Speed? Upper body strength? Core strength? Form? All these things at the security time? He doesn't look that jacked.
Why deny the obvious. It's all about genetics. The pole vault is dominated by white people since they have thicker lower legs which makes them ideally suited to riding poles. You don't see any Kenyans or Jamaicans breaking pole vault records, do you?
Ah yes, and javelin is for white people too. Wait, Kenya and Trinidad you say? Maybe the obvious it not body but availability. Read up on Mr YouTube Man when you have a moment. :-)
That is a long winded way of saying, it EASIER to compete for mother Sweden, when he is clearly an american.
It's kinda of a weak position considering he has grown up here and uses the resources of the United States to build his career.
Kid can vault !
I think there are a few reasons he is being treated differently than pappas.
1) he has competed for sweden from the beginning, she switched to greece after trying and failing to make US teams on multiple occasions (see also Torrence, David)
2) he is a legitimate medal contender whereas pappas wouldnt even make our team.
Can we clearly establish that Mondo's father is Greg Duplantis? Jeez!
http://www.gamb.law/?t=3&A=297&format=xmlusnspecialist wrote:
5.90 for those of us that use metrics for field events. Absolutely incredible. I thought before he was a dark horse to medal at worlds, but needed a few things to break his way. This shows he might be a medal favorite by the time London rolls around.
A medal contender yes.
This kid is amazing, but I will always find it difficult to route for an athlete who represents a country that has played absolutely no part in their development. Duplantis was born, raised, educated, trained and lives in America, that makes him American. I don't have anything personal against this kid, because he is a kid. My issue is with the parents.