Many countries across the world might still be in lockdown but three of the greatest pole vaulters of this century will be competing in the Ultimate Garden Clash - Pole Vault Edition on Sunday 3 May.
Europe will have very strong representation courtesy of European champion and world record-holder Armand Duplantis from Sweden as well as France’s 2012 Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie, who preceded Duplantis as world record-holder.
They will be joined in the contest by reigning two-time world outdoor champion Sam Kendricks from the United States. The triumvirate will be vaulting in their respective backyards and they will all be connected together via video link.
Streamed on the World Athletics' YouTube, Twitter and Facebook pages, the competition will be held on Sunday between 5-6pm CET – weather permitting – and will span three locations. Lavillenie will be vaulting from his home in Clermont-Ferrand, Kendricks will compete from his back garden in Oxford, Mississippi, and Duplantis will take part on the runway built in his family home in Lafayette, Louisiana.
Instead of a contest to clear the highest height – which would be difficult with a lack of officials as well as the difference in runways across the three locations – the three athletes worked together to devise their own competition format. They will attempt to vault 5.00m as many times as they can within 30 minutes.
'I'm ecstatic to be able to compete again, especially against Sam and Renaud,' said Duplantis. 'Since it's unknown what other competitions we will all have together, we definitely are going to enjoy this and have a good time with it. Also, winning this is crucial because I don't like losing to them very much.'
Lavillenie said: 'This is a superb opportunity to see the best jumpers in a new competition format showing their love for their sport with a competition when most other sports are off. And because we are all at home, we have no excuses to miss this international home competition.'
Lavillenie and Duplantis are also due to clash from afar at the Impossible Games in Oslo on 11 June. Duplantis will be vaulting at the Bislett Stadium against Lavillenie who will join the competition via video link from his backyard where he has cleared 5.85m in the past.