Armand Duplantis

“If I feel like I am becoming stagnant then I will try something new. I am always going to be trying to get to a new level.”

“My event is just like golf in that you have to practice a lot. It's so specific, it needs time.”

“To put pole vaulting on the map just for a second is a dream come true.”

“Growing up... you see Bubka as almost this mythological creature. He was not real in the things that he was doing, they didn't seem possible. Any record where you can knock him down a ranking is a pretty special feeling.”

“It's hard to believe sometimes that I am the world record holder.”

“I would like to jump 6.30 just because it sounds cool. Not because it's a limit, or anything like that.”

“I wear Sweden across my chest and I do it proudly.”

“I go out there, try to jump high and just be genuine.”

“The position I am in, I never really imagined, people talking to me about leading the whole sport of track and field? I am just a pole vaulter, it is such a strange and unique event.”

“You have to go up there and jump high and clear whatever the bar may be. It's a competition within myself. That's how it was even before I was the best in the world, because that's the approach to every competition.”

“I wanted to jump some days. I wanted to not jump some days. Some days I wanted to jump left-handed. Some days I wanted to jump in my underwear.”

“I try not to limit myself on what I can do.”

“I've been guilty of not taking my first and even second attempts too seriously. Knowing you have a third attempt is not always a good thing. It doesn't allow as much breathing room as you think. So golf has helped me there. Every shot matters. And now I take that attitude into every vault. I know now not to take any attempt lightly.”

“The only competition against other people is basically just on the scorecard. The only thing I can control is myself.”

“Renaud was my absolute idol.”

“Renaud was my idol growing up ever since I was 10 years old and I was just getting into pole vaulting and starting to become obsessed with him in general and the way he jumps, how he can do what he was doing.”

“14, 15 16 - those were my little awkward ages. I was still short.”

“I hope that I, together with Eton, will inspire people to acknowledge and appreciate all life's moments while they pursue their inner ambitions.”

“I want to do more than Bubka's done, for sure. More Olympics than him, more world championships.”

“Sweden and track and field always went together in my heart.”