SAINT-DENIS, France – Sam Kendricks enjoys the Olympics again. Valarie Allman never stopped.
It’s just the healing power that medals have to repair and reinforce feelings.
In a short space of time on Monday night, Allman won his second consecutive Olympics title in the discus throw, while Kendricks won silver in a pole vault competition that featured Sweden’s Armand “Mondo” Duplantis breaking his own world record.
The medals for Allman and Kendricks, 31, give the U.S. 11 so far in the competition, including three golds.
Three years ago in Tokyo, Kendricks didn’t get the chance to compete. He was placed in isolation because of a positive COVID-19 test and did not feel supported by Olympic authorities.
That led to some hard feelings — feelings that made the Mississippi native wonder if he wanted to compete in Paris.
Their love-hate relationship is back on the path of love after he won a silver medal. It matches the bronze he won at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
“I was definitely bitter,” Kendricks said. “I wouldn’t go to Paris until it was proven to me that it would be great and shine in the future.
“It’s hard to be rejected. Suddenly you’re sick, and all the doctors throw you to the wolves, and suddenly you’re isolated when Team USA should love you.”
It took a little thought for him to arrive in Paris for another Olympics.
“Instead of running away from this like I really wanted to, you have to come back,” Kendricks said. “You have to face that lion.”
Kendricks faced a pole vaulting beast in Duplantis, the 24-year-old from Louisiana who competes for his mother’s native Sweden. Kendricks has watched Duplantis’ journey to become the best in the world up close. It all culminated on Monday with Duplantis clearing 6.25 meters (20 feet 6 inches) to defend his gold medal.
“His story is written in the stars, for sure,” said Kendricks, who cleared 5.95 meters (19-6 1/4) to hold off Emmanouil Karalis of Greece. “But I think one day mine will have a tapestry hanging on the wall worth reading.”
The same goes for Allman’s story. After winning in Tokyo, the 29-year-old who competed for Stanford realized she needed to get back into discus training. It has become his sole focus both in and out of the global pandemic.
“I think I might be the only person in the world who’s probably had a lot of arguments in their life,” joked Allman. “When you want to be the best you can at something, you slowly start making sacrifices and don’t realize it’s happening.”
To slow down, she bought a house and went out with friends.
“Such basic things,” Allman said. “When I came out to perform, I said that no matter what happens, I am so grateful to be able to do what I love. It doesn’t matter if I win a medal, whatever color it is, if I don’t win a medal, it will be a night of pride in the fight I showed. I think there was something liberating about that.”
Early on, Allman showed some nervousness as he fouled out on his first attempt.
“I felt the weight of, ‘Holy shit, this is the Olympics,’” Allman explained. “It took me a minute to find my rhythm.”
She covered 68.74 meters (225-6) on her second throw and 69.50 (228-0) on her fourth. It was enough to beat Feng Bin from China and Sandra Elkasevic from Croatia.
“Pressure is becoming my friend,” Allman said. “I think it’s one of those things I’ve learned that can bring out the best in you if you embrace it.
“Entering the ring with just one attempt and knowing that I had already won, it was difficult to hold back the tears.”
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