Through two interviews and one competition in just three days, I have become a fan of the "pole vault genius" Duplantis.

To be honest, before entering the weekend in front of me, as a fan of the "Iron Buddha Temple" (Ferrari fan), all my thoughts were on the Shanghai International Stadium 300km away. Covering the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing was a necessity for my work, not a hobby.

　　也正因為這樣，雖然在賽前以一名體育記者的工作守則作為底線，為採訪杜普蘭蒂斯做好了功課——兩屆奧運冠軍、連續11次打破世界紀錄、職業生涯近百次成功完成6米以上的比賽高度……但無奈，撐桿跳這個項目距離我的興趣而言實在太過遙遠，我也篤定自己不可能get到這個項目的樂趣與魅力。

But after getting close to Duplantis, I realized that he had a very special charm in him.

　　他可以是那個當著全球媒體面，輕鬆說出“我對撐桿跳高很癡迷，但沒有了它，我也可以生活下去”的撐桿跳天才；他也可以是那個在賽前發佈會認真地說“我不會因為其他任何事情放棄製作音樂”的單曲音樂人；他還可以是在賽場上對自己百次越過6米高度無動於衷，卻誠心鼓勵對手跟上節奏的超級冠軍；甚至，他更是那個在賽事發佈會上公開徵集南京美食，私底下也真會去付出行動的“南京遊客”。

In short, being a fan of Duplantis is not all because of pole vaulting. But all this must be thanks to the missed F1 Chinese Grand Prix, which allowed me to get to know this Swedish genius who I thought was "boring" but free and easy on the stage of another world-class race.

In fact, like many people, before participating in the coverage of this indoor World Championships, I will also ask, compared with F1, the national football world preliminaries, or even a Diamond League, what can such an indoor World Championship bring to Nanjing? And now I have a new perspective.

To be selfish, an event may be just an event for a city. But if you bring the top event to the ordinary people living in the city, the event is just a sports competition, and every detail of it may bring new surprises and even new cognitions to everyone who is immersed in the scene.

Nanjing World Athletics Indoor Championships, as a top talent in this top event, Duplantis brought me surprises, which is enough for me to find more surprises and love in my work as a sports journalist.

揚子晚報/紫牛新聞記者 黃夕寅