That is exactly what is unique in the Norwegian context. Saturday night was qualifying at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon during this year’s world championships.

Norway fielded 23-year-old Sondre Guttormsen, his younger brother Simen Guttormsen, 21, and 21-year-old Pål Haugen Lillefosse.

Simen Guttormsen dreams of reaching the final. Sondre and Pål were able to win medals on a good day.

Lillefosse from Bergen has been Norway’s best this year. He jumped 5.86 and set a Norwegian record during the NM at Stjørdal in late June.

– We have levels that allow to win medals. It was evenly distributed behind Duplantis. There was only one to two centimeters separating the next five or six behind Duplantis. If either of us had the day, we could definitely be there to fight, said

Lillefosse has this to say about going out “to do it”. He has barely had one weak competition this season.

– Consistently good, and that’s my goal. Able to jump 5.70 plus every time. I’ve jumped 5.80 plus in five consecutive events. That’s where I want to lie. If I stabilize at that altitude, I can jump 5.90 when the day comes. May the day be here in Eugene. You have to have 5.90 to win a medal in the indoor WC, and it’s the same people here. “It’s about who can handle the wind and the best conditions,” Lillefosse told NTB during a press conference a few days before qualifying began.

jump

The 22 year olds are in a class of their own in pole vaulting. He has jumped 6.20 indoors and 6.16 outdoors.

– What is it about this Duplantis that makes it so great?

– I have asked myself the same question many times. I believe that he has a special understanding of pole vaulting, and he has perfected the technique to use the power of the pole to its full potential. Besides, he has a physique. He’s the fastest of us all, Lillefosse said.

The Guttormsen brothers also highlighted speed, among other things.

– First, he started the pole vault very early. He has about 22 years of training and that helps. I have a few years before I get to that much jumping and training. He is always physically strong and always fast. He is probably the fastest pole vaulter of all time. Not only is he fast in 100 meters, but he is also fast in running. “That’s the biggest difference between him and the rest of us, the speed of approach,” said Sondre Guttormsen.

Simen’s younger brother had the same opinion.

– He’s been pole vaulting for years. He has jumped a lot. I also started earlier, but not as close to him. “He’s physically good with extreme speed, and that’s very important in pole vaulting,” said Simen Guttormsen.

Training

The recipe for approaching Duplantis is as simple as it is difficult: It’s all about training, we Norwegian trio have to believe.

Both Lillefosse and Sondre Guttormsen have goals to get from over six yards by the end of next season.

– We just have to try to get as much knowledge out of him as possible. He jumps a little differently from the best he has done in the past. He had revolutionized the technique quite a bit. I think he can go higher than he has done so far. I think he can jump 6.30 someday. When he jumped 6.16 in cold and windy Stockholm, he had the potential to jump much higher, Lillefosse said.

– What are you going to do to cover 30 centimeters?

– Yes, I think I can jump 6 meters. I kind of like Duplantis in many areas. If you saw him a few years ago when he was the same age as me now, he was the same type. He was a thin and fast man. I just have to try and follow the progress.

– Duplantis was rumored to have 10.5 in 100 meters a few years ago. Maybe he’s running faster now. What do you have?

– I have 10.55 since I was 17 years old. I have speed. I just have to use it to my advantage. Not many people have the opportunity to do so. Even though I’m fast, I have the potential to be even faster at the pole vault. There are many keys. I haven’t maximized my speed. It’s fun to think about. We’ve come one step closer this year, but I know we still have more steps to take.