Olympic Games final, gold and world record in the last jump.
It was parts of the environment that Armand Duplantis imagined when he played pole vaulter on the back of his childhood home in American Lafayette, Louisiana.
At Stade de France in Paris-Olympic Games, everything became real.
And much, much better.
I think I've visualized this moment a million times in my life, he says.
Hard to take in
Yet, he was taken by the moment.
After securing the Olympic gold on six meters, he made sure to take the Olympic record, 6,03 by Brazilian Thiago Braz in Rio de Janeiro 2016, with a 6,10-jump.
Then the bar was raised to the world record height of 6,25.
Already then, a murmur went through the audience.
Then the atmosphere became increasingly electric.
80,000 spectators lived themselves into the jump and did everything they could to lift the Swede – who was the only one left of all competitors – over the bar.
On the third attempt, it went the way.
Honestly, it's hard to take in. But I don't think it can get much better than this... It was completely fantastic, he says
Deafening cheers
The 24-year-old exploded with joy together with the spectators. The sound level in the arena became deafening. In the midst of everything, Duplantis rushed forward to family and friends, gave his girlfriend a kiss, hugged his parents and Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie. Then he wrapped himself in the Swedish flag, pointed to his chest and looked into the TV cameras.
I knew I could do it, but when it actually happens...
The support was completely crazy from everyone. I guess it was pretty good TV back home in Sweden too.
A few minutes after the joyous shouts from all directions, it became quiet.
Completely quiet.
But only for a short moment.
For when Armand Duplantis then rang in the Olympic gold bell, Stade de France exploded in complete euphoria again.
