Ahead of the 2025 Diamond League opener in Xiamen, Armand Duplantis returned to the city where he broke the world record last year, and spoke to Xiamen University students with messages of passion and discipline, alongside Sam Kendricks, Christopher Bailey and Nicola Olyslagers.
XIAMEN, April 25 (Xinhua) -- With the 2025 World Athletics Diamond League to open in China's coastal city of Xiamen on Saturday, Sweden's pole vault legend Armand Duplantis paid a visit to Xiamen University on Thursday, along with world champions including pole vaulter Sam Kendricks, runner Christopher Bailey and women's high jumper Nicola Olyslagers.
The two-time Olympic champion was named World Sportsman of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Awards on Monday. At the Diamond League in Xiamen last April, he broke his own record to 6.24 meters, and improved it by one centimeter to win Olympic gold in Paris. Two months ago, he set a new world record of 6.27 meters, marking the 11th time he has broken the record.
Compared to winning the Laureus World Sports Awards, the 25-year-old said breaking world records was more thrilling.
"I like to jump. Everything else that comes out to that is just a result of jumping and what I do on the track, that is what I am focusing on," he said.
Asked which of his record-breaking jumps was the most unforgettable, he replied, "My favorite was in Xiamen. Favorite stadium, favorite place to jump. So excited to be back here, it's going to be amazing."
Duplantis also advised student athletes to give everything to pursue their dreams. "I think you just have to determine what you want from the sport, then do it with love, do it with passion. If you want to be the best version of yourself, it requires a lot of work, hard work, and discipline can be very rewarding," he said.
"And don't be afraid to lose. I think a lot of people don't give things the best shot because they want to have an excuse. It's a kind of defense mechanism to failure. If you are going to commit to something, commit all in, do it 100 percent."
With the Swedish sensation having monopolized gold medals at world championships and Olympic Games in recent years, other male pole vaulters have had to settle for second place. Sam Kendricks is one such competitor, with the American taking silver medals at the Paris Olympics and the 2024 Xiamen Diamond League meeting.
"Mondo [Duplantis] was my second place in 2019 [World Championships in Doha]," the 32-year-old smiled. "Every time I head on the track now I realize that I might have fewer chances than when I was 25. I am a father now, a husband, and I have so many things to jump for."
Discussing the increasing number of vaulters to have cleared 6 meters, Kendricks said, "Mondo changed our game. The problem is you can never ever be comfortable, it sharpens your mind, makes your body wake up in the middle of the night, sweating, trying to figure out how to improve yourself."
The American runs a training center in Mississippi, and shared his college athlete experiences with Xiamen University students.
"When I was in college, it was the toughest time for me because you don't know what your future looks like. You're preparing for something unknown. I think that is what sport is all about. You have to have courage. So carry on, stay strong, keep disciplined, and it will be just fine."
Christopher Bailey won an Olympic gold medal for the United States in the men's 4x400m relay at Paris 2024, and he recalled how busy he was last year.
"I was training for the Olympics, and also getting ready for a career outside of track and field, just in case anything gets in my way. I would say have faith in whatever you do and always plan for your future," he said.
Bailey won the men's 400m title at the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing last month, while Nicola Olyslagers of Australia defended her high jump title at the same event, edging out Ukraine's Yaroslava Mahuchikh.
"In fact, I was inspired by Yaroslava because she had courage to try out new things in the Olympic year. To break the world record, she changed her run-up. Even though I have trained for high jump for over 20 years, I have to learn how to do new things and not to be afraid," she said.
Competition is set to be fierce in the women's high jump on Saturday, where the Australian will compete against her compatriot Eleanor Patterson and world record holder Mahuchikh. ■