DuPlantis excited to be back in Tokyo after 'apocalyptic' Olympics | Sports

TOKYO, Sept 11, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Pole vault world record holder Armand 'Mondo' DuPlantis said Thursday that he hoped the world championships in Tokyo would be more fun than the "apocalyptic" Olympics there four years ago. The Tokyo Games, delayed a year to 2021 because of the pandemic, were held in strict conditions to prevent the spread of the virus, with fans shut out of most events and athletes forced to undergo tests and social distancing. DuPlantis won gold and, like other athletes, received his medal wearing a mask in an empty stadium. There will be no such restrictions when the world championships begin on Saturday, with fans expected to flock to Tokyo's National Stadium, which seats almost 70,000. DuPlantis...