Johanna Duplantis Debuts for Sweden at Finnkampen
Johanna Duplantis makes her anticipated national team debut at Finnkampen, competing alongside her brother Mondo.
Key Points
- • Johanna Duplantis to debut for Sweden at the Finnkampen athletics event.
- • She improved her personal record by 39 cm this year, ranking second in Sweden.
- • Johanna expressed excitement to compete alongside her world record-holding brother Mondo.
- • The national team includes other top Swedish athletes like Daniel Ståhl and Perseus Karlström.
In an exciting development for Swedish athletics, Johanna Duplantis is set to make her national team debut at the Finnkampen, having been named in the team by head coach Kajsa Bergqvist. This will take place from Friday to Sunday at Stockholm's stadium, marking a significant milestone in Johanna's athletic career as she competes alongside her brother, Armand "Mondo" Duplantis, who is a world record holder in pole vaulting.
Johanna, 22, expressed her surprise at being selected, noting, "I was not completely sure I would be included," given the strong competition from other athletes. Despite earlier commitments with Puma that caused her to miss the European Team Championships, Johanna has had a stellar year, enhancing her personal best by an impressive 39 centimeters to reach a height of 4.39 meters, making her Sweden's second-best pole vaulter this season.
The announcement of the team featured not only the Duplantis siblings but also other prominent Swedish athletes, including Daniel Ståhl, a discus thrower, and Perseus Karlström, a race walker. Women competitors include Maja Åskag and Vanessa Kamga, adding to a robust Swedish lineup. Coach Kajsa Bergqvist highlighted the strength of the team, emphasizing their potential to perform well at the event.
This Finnkampen will be particularly meaningful for both Johanna and Mondo, as Armand expressed in a previous statement, "It would be so crazy to compete with her at Finnkampen... it would mean so much more to me if we could compete together there." Johanna echoed similar sentiments, calling it "a dream come true to represent my mom's country alongside my brother."
Scheduled to compete on Sunday while Mondo takes to the field a day earlier, Johanna’s debut signifies not just a personal achievement but also a heartwarming family moment in Swedish sports history. As the competition unfolds, all eyes will be on the Duplantis duo, showcasing their immense talent on this prestigious stage.