Three years ago, he became the first athlete to clear 2.40m at the Pontaise stadium and set a new stadium record at 2.41m, which stands as the current record. Twelve months later, he won again with 2.40m thanks to better attempts, as fellow Ukrainian Andriy Protsenko had cleared the same height. Bondarenko is therefore the only athlete who has cleared 2.40m twice at the Pontaise stadium. “I love being in Lausanne because I always perform well there. One of the reasons is certainly the fact that the spectators are so close. I love the atmosphere in this stadium, it is very motivating.”
These two victories bode well for his career as he was crowned world champion in Moscow in 2013 and European champion in Zurich in 2014. The only title missing to his collection is the Olympic gold.
First participation for Barber
On the opposite jumping pit, Renaud Lavillenie will have his work cut out to prevail for a 4th time in the pole vault competition. The world record holder will face Shawn Barber who surprised everybody last year at the Beijing World Championships with a winning jump of 5.90 m. This year, the Canadian pole vaulter has already jumped 1 cm higher in Austin (USA) and is considered as a serious contender of the French jumper. It will be the Canadian’s first appearance in Lausanne.
The Greek Konstadinos Filippidis, winner of the 2013 edition and whose personal best is 5.91 m, will also be a serious contender. There is no doubt that an aerial show will be on display once again.
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Athletissima