"I really can't say where my limits are. But what is certain is that my limit is higher than my current world record", the Olympic champion had calmly affirmed during the press conference. before the meeting.
In front of the enthusiastic public of Karlsruhe, he failed three times against a bar at 6.19 meters, while he had passed with a margin his first try at 6.02 m, the height which had allowed him to triumph at the Tokyo Olympics last summer.
For this season, the 22-year-old prodigy has set himself the goal of the world title in Eugene (USA), the only major success that is still missing from his list: "It's time for me to win the world title in full air this summer in the United States. I am prepared for it and very motivated".
The joy of Sweden's Armand Duplantis, winner of the pole vault competition with a jump of 6.02m, during his first indoor competition on January 28, 2022 in Karlsruhe Uli Deck dpa/AFP
In the meantime, he has made an appointment with his supporters at the meeting in Berlin next Friday.
American KC Lightfoot took second place in the contest (5.89m) and Frenchman Valentin Lavillenie third (5.71m).
On the French side, Pascal Martinot-Lagarde dominated the 60 meters in 7.54 seconds, ahead of the Spaniard Enrique Llopis (7.59) and the Pole Jakub Szymanski (7.60).
Aurel Mange, the other Frenchman qualified for the final, took 5th place in 7.70 sec.
Among the women, Cyréna Samba-Mayela was beaten in the 60m hurdles at the photo finish by Jamaican Danielle Williams, in the same time of 7.84 sec.
At the length, Erwan Konate also took second place with a leap of 7.98 meters, behind the Swede Thobias Montler (8.02 m).
The spectators of Karlsruhe also vibrated when the Ethiopian Berihu Aregawi approached the world record for the 3000 m, in 7 min 26 sec 20/100.
This old record was established in 7 min 24 sec 90/100 in 1998 in Budapest by the Kenyan Daniel Komel.
© 2022 AFP