‘Another one for USA’ Louisiana-born Armand Duplantis winning gold for Sweden at Paris Olympics brings out BIZARRE reaction from American analysts

Louisiana-born Armand Duplantis represented Sweden instead of USA, winning gold and setting world record at Paris Olympics.

‘Another one for USA’ Louisiana-born Armand Duplantis winning gold for Sweden at Paris Olympics brings out BIZARRE reaction from American analysts

Armand Duplantis represented Sweden instead of USA at Paris Olympics (image via Sweden/X)

Armand Duplantis is probably the most electric field athlete of the past few years. He has been consistently breaking his world records in pole vault and has been sweeping gold medals at every event he participates in. Representing Sweden, the 24-year-old has now won his 2nd gold medal at the Paris Olympics. However, ESPN analysts decided to bring out his USA roots amid a bizarre claim.

Host Mike Greenberg and guest Domonique Foxworth were discussing the event on ESPN’s morning show, Get Up. When talking about Duplantis’ accomplishments, Greenberg and Foxworth shared their two cents. 

When I say Sweden's, I mean he is from Louisiana. I think his mom competed for Sweden, so he decided to compete for Sweden also. I'm counting that in our medal count, the man grew up in Louisiana. Another one for the USA.
Mike Greenberd and Domonique Foxworth said

It was a bizarre take as Armand Duplantis took the decision to represent Sweden as his mother is Swedish. He might have been born to an American father and grew up in the States, but the choice to represent his mother’s country was taken after a lot of thought.

It is not that the pole vaulter does not feel for his birth country. Rather, he is very fond of America and mostly lives the American lifestyle. But his link to his mother’s homeland and some persuasion from a Swedish coach tilted the decision to the European country’s favor. His gold medals and world records have Sweden written beside them.

Why the analysts had that bizarre reaction because generally USA is the benefactor when international athletes want to represent them over their birth countries. For them, the gold medal and the world record from the Paris Olympics could have had the American flag beside them.

Swedish coach used his American father to convince Armand Duplantis

When he was in his teens, Armand Duplantis was already earning enough recognition. But Swedish coach Jonas Anshelm wanted him to represent his mother’s country. He could not convince his family the first time around. But Anshelm figured out a potential advantage with which he could convince the Duplantis’.

Louisiana-born Armand Duplantis was a part of LSU athletics and is half-American
Louisiana-born Armand Duplantis was a part of LSU athletics and is half-American (image via Open Source/X)

Armand Duplantis’ father, Greg, a former pole vaulter, had coached him throughout his developmental years. Anshelm offered Greg Duplantis a position on the Swedish pole vault team as a coach. That tilted the decision towards the European nation. Two Olympic gold medals and setting the world record 9 times later, it seems Jonas Anshelm should be given a massive raise.

All that said, it is not like Armand Duplantis did not have any links to Sweden and just decided to sport the jersey due to any material or representative benefits. After all, it is the birthplace of his mother. That makes him half-Swedish at birth.

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