Armand "Mondo" Duplantis does not hesitate in aiming for the medals. But it will be a tough competition, both Sam Kendricks from the USA and Piotr Lisek from Poland have jumped higher this year and the trio have been turning to be at the top of this year's pallets.
- It's tough and very fun. Everyone jumps very well and that makes it incredibly exciting and makes people look at pole jumping much more than ever before, I think, says Duplantis.
- And that will make it a very exciting World Cup. I can only focus on myself, I know the others are very good, especially right now.
"Finally"To get straight to Tuesday's final, you need a jump of 5.75 meters - otherwise you have to hope for the top twelve.
"Mondo" is enjoying it is finally time.
- Finally, finally, finally. It felt like this championship would never come, it's so late in the year compared to before. But it will be fun, we are so ready, we just want to get started, he says and continues:
- Championship is why you are playing athletics, you want to be in the big arenas, the big championships, because that is where the legends are created.
"Feeling pretty safe"At the same time as Duplanti's jump for the final, Sweden's second - and very biggest - gold jump, Daniel Ståhl, will throw discus in another part of the Khalifa stadium. Ståhl has dominated the men's discus this year and is a clear world leader.
- I feel like number one, at least world-year-best. Since then I have not taken gold yet and I would like to do that, says Ståhl.
His biggest competitor is Fredrick Dacres, Jamaica, who has thrown 70.78 this year compared to Ståhl's season-best and Swedish record of 71.86.
For Ståhl and Simon Pettersson it is necessary to pass 65.50 meters for a direct place in the final.
- It's just a matter of putting the first and second throws there, so that you take the direct qualification. I feel pretty safe actually, but I still go in with humility and try to do my best, says Ståhl.