You’ve already broken the world record multiple times. What still drives you to aim higher — literally and figuratively?I think I have just really fallen in love with the journey and the chase, and I am not fixated on one height or another. That gives me all these types of joys, because I realized that the important thing is the journey and the chase.

And, you know, once you’ve been able to achieve these things that you’ve set as goals and dreamed of, you always find a way to recalibrate and to push forward and go for more.


Pole vaulting is such a mental sport. How do you prepare your mind for those decisive jumps?My mentality just comes from confidence in my preparation. That’s the main thing. When you’re confident, you’re able to shut off the negative thoughts and negative side of your brain, and you’re able to focus on what you want to achieve, visualizing a positive outcome and what you want to happen.

What does “perfection” feel like in a vault, and how often do you get that feeling?I think the perfect jump doesn’t really exist. I’ve had a lot of jumps that I felt really, really great with, like I really found the pocket and the timing of it.

But I don’t think “perfect” is necessarily a totally achievable and realistic thing when it comes to pole vaulting. But it is also an inspiring thing, because it’s something that you can chase.

But with every jump I’ve ever had – even the ones that are the absolute best – I always felt like something was not quite right and I wasn’t totally comfortable with it in some way, which is maybe what you need to jump higher and push yourself in an uncomfortable way.


You’ve been part of the PUMA family for a while now. How does it feel to represent a brand with such a strong track and field heritage?I grew up, like many others, idolizing Usain Bolt.  

Speed is the most natural thing for our species – you just want to be fast! When I was a kid, I just wanted to race other kids. I loved racing so much. So, speed is probably the most important factor in pole vaulting for me in trying to be high. So, it felt so right and very natural from the very beginning to partner with the fastest sports brand in the whole world and the fastest brand in history.

PUMA’s NITRO technology is designed to give athletes maximum energy return and responsiveness. How do you experience that in competition?
The NITRO technology is pretty wild, honestly.  

To feel the difference between the NITRO foam what we are competing in now compared to just only five years ago, is really amazing.  

I feel like every year it’s getting even more and more responsive and I have a little bit more rebound and recall from the shoe. I feel I am really able to get maximum responsiveness, speed, and support from the shoe.

I really just love it.  

How important is it for you to trust your equipment — spikes, pole, gear — when you’re standing on the runway about to attempt a record?Trust in your equipment is probably the most important thing there is. As I have said before, you have to be 100% confident in what is about to happen and you have to totally believe in everything.

Whether it’s your shoes or, in my case, my pole, the track and everything: all the equipment that you rely on, you need to make sure is perfect because sports always just comes down to little tiny, tiny variables and little centimeters. You need to have full confidence in what you’re using.

Do you see yourself as part of the innovation process? Do you share feedback with PUMA’s design team that helps shape future products?
To a certain extent, I’m a part of the innovation process. I’m very fortunate to have Karsten [editor’s note: Karsten Warholm, 400m World Record holder] and Leif [Leif Olav Alnes, Karsten’s coach] on the team, because I piggyback a lot on their ideas.  

I like my shoes to be based on some type of design and innovation that you guys have been able to come up together with Karsten. So, I’m very grateful for that.

I’m not so much of an analytic person and don’t want to do all this crazy testing and figuring out all the issues and what not. I just like to feel stuff. And if this feels good, it feels good and then I like it like that.

Pole vault isn’t always in the spotlight compared to other track and field events. What excites you about bringing more attention to it?I have a lot of confidence about how entertaining and how amazing this event can be.

When you look at track and field as a whole, the only event that can really stand on its own, that you can host in a city for three hours, and that works historically is pole vaulting. I think this says a lot about its entertainment value.

Of course, it’s a bit niche, and I feel I have some sort of responsibility to push and promote the sport as best as I can. In some way, I am the frontrunner and leader at this particular time, I guess. So, as long as I am trying to always be my best and jump high, that’ll be the best thing for the sport.

Young athletes look up to you worldwide. What advice would you give them about chasing their own limits?I think the best advice that I can give, as far as chasing your own limits, is just trying to really get yourself into a mindset that anything is possible. It’s very easy for people and everybody to dwell and focus on negativity and what’s not possible.

The people who just find a way – no matter what, no matter what the circumstances, no matter what the situation – these are always the ones who will succeed.

Looking ahead, what goals are still on your horizon — both in terms of sport and personal growth?I’m very much of a present person, living in the present, so I don’t think so much further than that.

But my full focus is now on 2026 and I want to do something similar to what I did in 2025. Which is: just trying to jump as best as I can and push a few new world records, of course.  

Really, just kind of the same old thing.