Armand Duplantis revealed the key for his success

One of the stars of track and field, Armand Duplantis, has said the key to his dominance in the pole vault in recent years is his speed, and unlike most of his predecessors in the discipline, he wears specially designed spikes to improve it.

Armand Duplantis set his 13th world record when he cleared 6.29m last month and will be fighting for a third consecutive world title in Tokyo next week.

Speaking at an event hosted by sportswear manufacturer Puma today, the Swede said he has been actively involved in improving his athletic footwear for a long time.

“This is hugely important from an innovation perspective and I am very grateful to the Puma family for allowing me to really have a say in what I want and need. I am now competing in very different shoes to the first ones I had”, said Armand Duplantis. “Obviously, whoever is the fastest on the track and creates the most energy is probably going to jump the highest”, added he, who grew up in the United States but represents the country of his mother, a former Swedish heptathlete.

“I really felt the benefit from the very beginning of the extra little grip and the way I could push in the first few steps and build up speed”, the track and field athlete said of his special spikes.

Armand Duplantis also showed off his speed last year when he beat Norwegian 400-meter hurdles record holder Karsten Warholm in the 100-meter dash, clocking a respectable 10.37 sec.