American pole vaulter Sam Kendricks expressed that he still feels “broken” from the positive Covid-19 test that dashed his Olympic aspirations in Tokyo three years ago, as he seeks to craft a new narrative at the Paris Games.
“The Olympics let me down,” he remarked.
At 31 years old, the Rio bronze medalist was a top contender in Tokyo after securing two world titles but was disqualified after a positive test, joining the ranks of athletes who had to withdraw under health protocols.
“It was a positive test that determined my fate, not illness,” Kendricks explained to reporters on Saturday.
“I’m still shattered by it and perceived as damaged by every brand. I can’t go back and change it; that’s how sports history is made.”
On Saturday, Kendricks successfully navigated the initial round of pole vaulting with a jump of 5.75 meters.
However, he almost decided against attending the Games. He shared with reporters during the US trials that he was contemplating staying home.
“The Olympics let me down – everyone at Team USA abandoned me,” he stated.
Ultimately, Kendricks made the trip to France and drew inspiration from the crowd at the Stade de France.
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“There’s no greater joy than being in the Olympic stadium, embraced by a crowd that is loving and supportive,” he said. “I’ve missed that experience tremendously. I never want to be without it again for any reason.”
As he vies for gold on Monday, Kendricks faces a formidable challenge against world record holder and reigning champion, Mondo Duplantis. Yet, he expressed excitement about competing against the Swede.
“Mondo needs to recognize that I live in his shadow all the time,” Kendricks commented. “I might be like a little bogeyman in Mondo’s world, but we perform well together in competitions. I’ve always done well when Mondo’s around, and he has pushed me to excel.”
