“I\u2019m feeling good; I always enjoy coming to the Allianz Memorial Van Damme,\u201d said a relaxed Duplantis. \u201cAnd the fact that Brussels is once again hosting the Wanda Diamond League final this year makes it extra special. I\u2019m really keen to secure another Diamond League success, but I realise it won\u2019t be handed to me on a plate tomorrow.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Over the past few weeks, I\u2019ve had a couple of intense battles with Manolo (Karalis),\u201d says Duplantis, referring to two recent meetings in Switzerland and other events. In Lausanne, the Swede won with 6.21 metres (versus 6.16m for Karalis) and in Zurich with 6.25 metres (versus 6.20m for Karalis). \u201cI think it will take at least a meeting record to win tomorrow,\u201d predicts Duplantis, who holds the Brussels meeting record with 6.11 metres (set in 2024).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Without wishing to sound disrespectful to my opponents: it\u2019s been a while since I\u2019ve faced opposition of that calibre. That\u2019s a new feeling I have to learn to deal with. It\u2019s fun for the crowd. They don\u2019t just want to see me break records; they also want me to be pushed by other athletes. And that\u2019s fine. I\u2019m having a really good time with it.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What if, sooner or later, Manolo Karalis or someone else breaks his world record, which currently stands at 6.31 metres? \u201cThat\u2019ll be a strange feeling,\u201d admits Duplantis. \u201cBut the feeling of no longer being the last man standing in the competition would be even stranger. Ah well, all those records. They\u2019re fleeting in sport. It\u2019s all about winning competitions. Medals are forever,\u201d says Duplantis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n