During this indoor ISTAF meeting, the Swedish Olympic pole vault champion failed to pass 6.19m, and thus improve his own world record (6.18m), after winning the competition with a pole vault. 6.03m.

For his part, Jacobs returned as the winner with a time of 6 sec 51/100, more than five months after his Olympic exploits (gold medals in the 100m and 4x100m with Italy) which had stunned the world.

He had completed his preparation with a one-month internship in the Canary Islands, in Tenerife, and came to Berlin to perfect his adjustments.

"I'm very happy with my feelings in this first race," he told AFP in the mixed zone.

"I hope to run a little faster but, after such a long period without competition, it's normal to need to find the rhythm again."

Jacobs beat the Ivorian Arthur Cissé (6 sec 60/100) and the Frenchman Jimmy Vicaut (6 sec 61/100) in the final.

European record goal

His stated goal for the indoor season is to break the European 60m record, held since 2009 by Briton Dwain Chambers in 6 sec 42/100.

"In Tokyo, in the semi-finals and in the 100m final, I had passed the 60m by beating this record, so my goal is to find this form again", he added.

Italian Olympic champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs wins the 60m at the indoor meeting in Berlin, February 4, 2022 John MACDOUGALL AFP

The 27-year-old sprinter, whose astonishing progress over 100m in 2021 had aroused skepticism among some, recently repeated that he had never taken any doping products.

"As an athlete representing my country, I will never do anything that could tarnish my reputation or that of my nation," he told the British daily Daily Telegraph a few days before his return, to clear the land.

Seconds after Jacobs' victory, Armand "Mondo" Duplantis sent shivers through the Berlin arena, hitting the bar at 6.19m on his second and third attempts.

"I really liked my second try because I felt like I had the height to pass," said the 22-year-old Swede.

"I am at a point in my career where I progress in small steps (...) I know what I have to do, I have all the pieces of the puzzle to beat my personal record."

In Berlin, he crossed 6.03 m, his best performance of the season after the 6.02 m cleared last week in Karlsruhe (Germany) for his comeback.

Swedish prodigy Armand Duplantis crosses a pole at the indoor meeting in Berlin, February 4, 2022 John MACDOUGALL AFP

Note also the performance over 60 m hurdles of Aurel Manga.

The 29-year-old Frenchman won in 7 sec 62/100, ahead of Dutchman Koen Smet and Brazilian Rafael Pereira, both in 7 sec 68/100.

© 2022 AFP