France’s vice-champion at home at Miramas in the number of attempts behind Thibaut Collet, Valentin Lavillenie was in contention with Renaud, the defending champion, for the second and final seat for Serbia. The previous world record holder, who missed his French championship (sixth by 5.66 metres), had the record minimum of 5.81 metres at Torcoing, in January.
6.05pm by Chris Nielsen
Having become a father for the second time at the start of the week and lacking rhythm after a 2021 season disrupted by injuries, he failed to perform better than 5.51m at Rouen (three failures at 5.71m). Less quality than Valentine, a 5.81m author for the second time in a week who narrowly failed in 5.86m in a competition that delivered on all its promises.
“I’m not that far, but I’m very far from doing anything right”
The victory went to Vice Olympic Champion Chris Nielsen with a rod of 6.05 meters on his first attempt – a record, national record and best combined performance of the season – ahead of Filipino Ernest Objna and Brazilian Thiago Braz (5.91 meters). A week before the world championships, and in the absence of the favorite, Swedish world record holder Armand Duplantis, the American established himself as a serious candidate for the podium in Serbia.
After his last jump, Renaud Lavillenie announced that he would be ending his indoor season. “There’s so much frustration, I was pretty sure my brush was a bit tangled up because I don’t have enough training behind it,” he explained to La Chaîne L’Équipe. I’m not very far, but I am very far from doing anything right. I see it complicated, and if I want to be successful this summer, I have to take the next two weeks to go home, rest, and come back stronger. »
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