Renaud Lavillenie crossed 6m02 at Tourcoing.

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Uli DECK / POOL / AFP

“It's a beautiful day, it gives me more than pleasure.

I knew I was capable of it given what I was doing in training, that this goal could become reality in the short term, ”he told AFP.

“It's clearly a return to my best level.

People weren't listening to me, but I explained that since the winter of 2017 I had struggles, small injuries that bothered me during my preparations.

Today, it's been six months that I have had no physical problems, that I can train every day, so the work pays, ”he added.

20th competition over 6 meters

True to his reputation as an insatiable competitor, the Olympic vice-champion allowed himself a failed attempt at 6.20 m on Sunday, which would have been a new world record, while Duplantis had rubbed 6.19 m without success in the afternoon.

This competition replaces Renaud Lavillenie in the world hierarchy, after having been thrown in recent years in the shadow of Duplantis, but also of the American Sam Kendricks and the Pole Piotr Liseck, all authors of several jumps over 6 m.

6m02 💪🏼


Nothing to add 👊🏼


Thank you @Perche_en_or



💙 air6team 🥰 @PUMA @PUMARunning @BRMChrono @Michelin 💙 pic.twitter.com/E4HrvRzlGt

- Renaud LAVILLENIE (@airlavillenie) January 31, 2021

"I have given myself back the possibility of dreaming of a fifth European indoor title," he explains, referring to the indoor Euro in Torun (Poland) scheduled for March 5-7.

“'Mondo' has the advantage, he did 6.18m, 6.15m last summer.

But things can happen in a competition… ”Before Torun, his reunion with Duplantis will take place on February 6 in Rouen, then three days later, on February 9 in Liévin, and on February 27 in the competition he organizes in Clermont-Ferrand.

Sport

Pole vault: Lavillenie crosses the 6-meter mark for the first time since 2016

  • Athletics

  • Pole vault

  • Renaud Lavillenie

  • Sport