Mondo Duplantis withdraws from Diamond League finals; Here's why

Mondo Duplantis has pulled out of the Diamond League Final in Brussels on Friday. The Swedish pole vault world-record holder was forced to do so after experiencing tightness and irritation during warm-ups. The athlete has raised fitness concerns as he revealed details about his injury and the withdrawal. 

Mondo Duplantis withdraws from Diamond League finals; Here's why

The 26-year-old, a double Olympic champion, described the sensation as identical to the issue that forced him out of the London Diamond League meeting earlier in the season. Duplantis said:

“Same sensation that I had in London. I didn’t want to do it, but I just had this tightness and irritation that I didn’t want to have in the warmups.” 

Duplantis also felt the problem return during last week’s competition in Zurich but pushed through on that occasion. His agent, Daniel Wessfeldt, told Swedish media that the athlete felt something in his back that had spread into his legs and decided he did not want to continue. The withdrawal came just minutes before the pole vault competition was due to begin. 

In Duplantis’s absence, Greek rival Emmanouil Karalis took the Diamond League title with a jump of 6.12 metres, setting a new meeting record. Attention now turns to whether the Swede will be fit for the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest next week. Duplantis said he remains uncertain about his participation. 

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