We are back - before Diamond League in Doha

 We are in Qatar - again in Doha. We have already been here - a year ago during the World Championship and I think we have good memories. We had two brilliant pole vault competitions. I think we are going to talk about them, remind them pretty soon on this blog. 

It's the last Diamond League event this year and, because of the late time of the year, it means almost the end of the season. Very, very weird season but also one of the best I've ever seen. Yes, I'm talking too much - there's still one big competition to go, so it's not the time for reviewing the last few months. 

Coming to pole vault and who's going to start...Of course, our world record holder Armand Duplantis, alongside reigning world champion Sam Kendricks and great master - Renaud Lavillenie. They are shown as the stars of the evening, but we have many interesting names that we can't underestimate. Ben Broeders, who jumped NR in Rome may be strong, as well as Harry Coppell who jumps high. We also have young Thibaut Collet, who jumped his personal best this season, together with other three Americans - Audie Wyatt, Matt Ludwig, and Cole Walsh. 

I always wait for a great competition and I always get it. As I said in another post - pole vault never disappoints. Once again, I'm so excited that I can't sit peacefully in one place. 

I've watched a press conference with Sam Kendricks today, as well as Press Points with Mondo Duplantis. I'm gonna tell you the most interesting things that athletes told journalists - thanks to Doha Diamond League you can everything again, by yourself.

"The guys of the past, they set the trend. They set the bar high so...But the very fact is that a new expectation has been set. If you wanna play this game, especially against Mondo, you gotta come ready to play harder than anybody in history." said Sam Kendricks.

Sam also mentioned another pole vaulters meeting in his hotel room, but I think I'll send you to the whole conference so hear it better yourself.

Mondo, after a question about possible "revenge" on Sam, after last year.

"I mean, I feel a little bit, maybe a little bit but we've got a lot of great jumpers tomorrow. Renaud, we have Sam of course and you know, you can't underestimate those guys. Those guys can jump really good [...] It's... 'revenge' is a strong word but it's something like that"

Mondo about inspiring the younger generation.

"Wow... I mean, you have to find that you love about the sport, you know, and sometimes it changes, what your desires are and it changes for me. For me, there's a lot of things that I like about pole vaulting and love about pole vaulting and I've been loving for a long time now. So I've just always been really passionate. You know, if you passion and love something and you put all our effort into something, good things are gonna happen, no matter what."

I think it's going to be a great competition. I can't wait - at the same time, I don't want the season to end. A break is going to be killing, but of course, athletes need a break.

Doha Diamond League starts at 5 pm (GMT+3)