Because of the coronavirus pandemic, athletes around the world are now unable to participate in tournaments. However, some of them found the opportunity not only to keep fit at home, but also to compete. Some of the best athletes on the planet - the Swede Arman Duplantis, the Frenchman Renault Lavilleni and the American Sam Kendricks - held extramural competitions right at home.
To do this, each of them arranged in his own garden an improvised sector for pole jumping and started a video broadcast for the audience. The current world record holder Duplantis was in the American city of Lafayette (Louisiana), the 2012 Olympic champion Lavilleni jumped in Clermont-Ferrand in France, and two-time world champion Kendricks performed in Oxford, Mississippi.
Participants in the competition decided to abandon the usual format of the competition due to technical difficulties. So, there would be no one to move or raise the bar, and the athletes themselves would be extremely inconvenient to do this. In addition, individual judges would be needed to monitor compliance with all rules and standards. Therefore, the jumpers agreed that the winner will be the one who in 30 minutes makes the maximum number of successful jumps to a symbolic height of five meters - quite modest for such universally recognized masters. Although endurance, rather than technique and concentration, comes to the fore in such competitions, athletes were eagerly anticipating how they would start for the first time in a long time.
“I'm thrilled to be able to compete again, especially with Sam and Renault. We - since it is not known at which competitions we all meet again - we will certainly enjoy this venture and have a good time. It’s also very important for me to win, because I don’t really like losing to them, ”said Duplantis before the competition.
Today is the day.
5pm CET #UltimateGardenClash
📰: https://t.co/RM40YFM3Qcpic.twitter.com/HnBVvfNfWr
Athletes over and over again stormed the bar in their backyard, while their relatives counted the successful attempts and helped the participants in every possible way in their difficult struggle. Duplantis and Lavilleni immediately went ahead of Kendrix, who took long breaks between sets. According to the results of the first 15 minutes, the Swedish athlete led with 17 attempts, and his main opponent from France was only one step behind.
After a short pause, during which the athletes talked to the host of the competition, the test continued. Kendricks continued to hopelessly lag behind, claiming only a virtual bronze medal, and Lavilleni managed in the last minutes to catch up with Duplantis, who once managed to break the bar. As a result, they both made 36 jumps and divided the first place.
The #Ultimate GardenClash was a test of stamina and endurance.
See how they got on👇
📰: https: //t.co/pvUZwMZgwFpic.twitter.com/0V9I21Uady
The host suggested that they spend another three minutes in the sector, but the French athlete refused because of fear of injury from overwork. Duplantis jokingly jumped one more time and, pleased with himself, showed the audience a piece with the number "37". Naturally, they did not count this attempt.
“I really missed the sensations I received at the competitions. Incredible, but even jumping in my garden, I felt like in an important championship. It was very exciting, and I'm glad I took part in this. I won’t begin to compete like this every week, but once a year it’s possible, ”Lavilleni shared his impressions.
We have two Kings of the Garden 👑👑
The #Ultimate Garden Clash pole vault finishes as a tie, with @ mondohoss600 and @airlavillenie achieving 36 five-meter clearances. @ Samkendricks bags bronze with 26 clearances. pic.twitter.com/SHTGyYRcpz
The broadcast of the competition gathered more than 96 thousand views on YouTube, and in the comments to it the fans were delighted to see their favorites again in business. The idea to hold such tournaments was also liked by the Olympic champion Katerina Stefanidi from Greece.
“I don’t think that I will have enough words to express how I envy Duplantis, Lavilleni and Kendricks because they managed to hold their“ garden competition ”. Such a great idea, and such an entertaining sight! ”, The athlete shared her impressions.
The International Athletics Federation has promised to continue work on new competitions in which athletes can participate right at home. It is possible that the next in line will be the core pushers - fans of this discipline in the UK have already held virtual competitions among themselves.