The 24-year-old is in China for the first time ever and ahead of the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Xiamen, the pole vault world record holder feels ready to put on a show.
“I don't put limits on myself so of course, in my mind, I always think that I'm capable of a record,” he says. “If everything lines up the way it can, then I can be doing things like the world record.”
It would come as a massive shock if Duplantis, in his first event of the outdoor season, puts the bar up to or beyond the current world record of 6.23m, but given his talent, his outlying ability, it’s never out of the question.
He arrived in Xiamen earlier this week, visiting some local sites on Wednesday and practising in the spectacular Egret Stadium, the venue for tonight’s meeting.
“There's something about the stadium that has something very special to it,” he says. “It's my first time being in China so that's super exciting, an amazing new experience. Honestly, I haven't been doing as much sightseeing as I’d like. It's been a lot of sleeping through the mornings, just trying to recover and rest as best as I can, try to get over the jetlag.”
No matter where he goes, expectation is a constant companion for Duplantis, who first rose to the top of the world in 2015, winning the world U18 title in Cali, Colombia. Three years later he became world U20 champion and the European senior champion, before going on to take over the pole vault, winning the last two world indoor titles, the last two world outdoor titles and, of course, the Olympic title in Tokyo.
He was beaten just once last year, finishing fourth at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Monaco, but he closed the season with a resounding victory at the final in Eugene, clearing a world record of 6.23m. He was four from four during his indoor season, capped off with a gold medal at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow in early March.
How have things been since?
“Everything’s been on schedule, as it should be,” he says. “It was a short indoor season, short and sweet, and I was able to get the job done when it most counted. It’s been a good training cycle since World Indoors. I’m feeling good.”
What’s his goal in Xiamen?
“It’s a little hard to predict but I guess that’s the fun in it,” he said. “There’s different juices that rumble in the stomach when it’s a season opener but I like that kind of feeling of the unknown. I think anything is possible. I think I have a high bar in me.”
On Friday, Duplantis took time out to interact with local and international media, understanding the importance of such work in connecting with fans, not that being in the spotlight comes naturally to him.
“You get used to it,” he admits. “I was a little bit shy as a kid and when I was younger, I don't think public speaking was my favourite thing. It’s something you just kind of grow into and you kind of have to get used to it, the better you get at your sport.”
With just over three months until the Paris Games, Duplantis says he is “not really thinking about the Olympics all that much right now” but is “trusting that the training and everything is in place where I'm going to be in my best shape at that time.”
In Xiamen, Duplantis will face a top-class field that includes two-time world champion Sam Kendricks and Olympic medallist Chris Nilsen, who are both also members of the exclusive six-metre club.
“It's great to have the guys like Sam and Chris and they're always willing to compete at all the competitions, to face everybody,” says Duplantis. “I think it's only a good thing and I think it only makes me better.”
Duplantis will be well known to many locals who turn up on Saturday night, and he plans to make it a worthwhile trip for them.
“I hope that I can put on a good performance for all the Chinese people and the kids that want to come watch me,” he says. “Hopefully we can put on some good jumps and show people how beautiful the pole vault really can be.”
