He made the audience end up in ecstasy after setting world records in both Poland (6.17) and Scotland (6.18) last winter.

Since then, it has been echoing empty in the stands when Armand Duplantis jumped pole vault - but not for long. The Swedish-American will namely start in the classic athletics competition ISTAF in Berlin which is arranged on 13 September - and thus returns to the Olympic Stadium where he won European Championship gold in 2018 after finishing 6.05.

Far from crowded

The competition organizer has been granted permission to organize the competition with a limited audience of 3,500 visitors. The athletics competition usually attracts around 45,000 spectators, but due to the prevailing pandemic situation, the event will be somewhat different.

“Together with our partners, we want to show that we are there for supporters and athletes, even in difficult times. 3,500 instead of 45,000 spectators - ISTAF will definitely be different this time. But it can be a first small step to a normality ", says competition manager Martin Seeber in a press release.

German Gesa Felicitas Krause, who also won European Championship gold in 2018, will also start in the 3,000 meter hurdles.