Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Discus Thrower Allman and Pole Vaulter Kendricks Win Olympic Medals Moments Apart for the US
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 4 months ago on
August 6, 2024

The United States' Valarie Allman takes a victory lap after winning the women's discus throw at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP/David Goldman)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

SAINT-DENIS — Sam Kendricks appreciates the Olympics again. Valarie Allman never stopped.

It’s just the healing power that medals have to mend and reinforce feelings.

Allman Wins Second Straight Olympic Title in Discus Throw

In a short span Monday night, Allman won her second straight Olympic title in the discus throw, while Kendricks captured silver in a pole vault competition that featured Sweden’s Armand “Mondo” Duplantis breaking his own world record.

The medals from Allman and Kendricks, 31, gave the U.S. 11 so far in the meet, including three golds.

Kendricks Overcomes Bitterness From Tokyo Isolation

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 didn’t feel supported by Olympic officials.

It led to some pretty hard feelings — feelings that had the Mississippi native wondering if he even wanted to compete in Paris.

His love-loathe relationship is back on path to love after he earned a silver medal. It pairs with the bronze he captured at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.

“I was definitely bitter,” Kendricks said. “I wasn’t going to come to Paris until it was proven to me that it was going to be great and shining into the future.

“It’s tough, being turned away from. All of a sudden you’re sick, and every doctor throws you to the wolves, and all of a sudden you’re stuck in isolation when Team USA is supposed to love you.”

It took some soul-searching for him to arrive in Paris for another Olympics.

“Rather than run away from it like I really wanted to, you’ve got to come back,” Kendricks said. “You’ve got to face that lion.”

Duplantis Defends Gold, Breaks Own World Record

Kendricks went up against a pole-vaulting beast in Duplantis, the 24-year-old from Louisiana who competes for his mother’s native Sweden. Kendricks watched the journey up close of Duplantis blossoming into the world’s best. It culminated 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 mine will have a tapestry hanging on my wall one day worthy of reading.”

Same with Allman’s tale. After winning in Tokyo, the 29-year-old who competed for Stanford realized she needed to dial back on the discus training. It had become her sole focus in and out of the global pandemic.

“I think I might be the only person in the world that probably had too much discus in their life,” Allman joked. “When you want to be as good as you can at something, you slowly start making sacrifices, and you don’t realize that it’s happening.”

To scale back, she bought a house and hung out with friends.

“Such basic things,” Allman said. “When I went out to perform, I said that no matter how it played out, I’m so grateful that I get to do what I love. No matter if I get a medal, whatever color it is, if I don’t get a medal, this is going to be a night that I’m proud of the fight that I showed. I think there was something freeing in that.”

Early on, Allman showed some jitters by fouling on her first attempt.

“I felt the weight of like, ‘Holy crap, this is the Olympics,'” Allman explained. “It took me a minute to find my groove.”

She went 68.74 meters (225-6) on her second throw and 69.50 (228-0) on her fourth. It was enough to beat Feng Bin of China and Sandra Elkasevic of Croatia.

“Pressure is becoming my friend,” Allman said. “I think it’s one of those things I’ve learned can bring out the best in you if you embrace it.

“To walk into the ring having one attempt left and knowing I’d already won, it was hard fighting back tears.”

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Augillard, Douglas Lead the Way as Bulldogs Rally Past Long Beach State

DON'T MISS

Israel Strikes Without Warning in Beirut, Kills at Least 15 as Cease-Fire Sought

DON'T MISS

Trump Taps Rollins as Ag Chief in Final Cabinet Pick

DON'T MISS

Fresno State Becomes Bowl Eligible, Defeats Colorado State on Senior Night

DON'T MISS

After Fresno Visit, Newsom Announces $24.7M Taxpayer-Funded Apprenticeship Program

DON'T MISS

How Will Merced County Fund Public Safety After Measure R’s Failure?

DON'T MISS

As Atmospheric River Soaks California, Farmworkers Await Flood Aid Promised in 2023

DON'T MISS

Sacramento Region Gained People but Flubbed Economic Opportunities Over 50 Years

DON'T MISS

Nations at UN Climate Talks Agree on $300B a Year for Poor Countries in a Compromise Deal

DON'T MISS

What to Know About Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Trump’s Pick for Labor Secretary

UP NEXT

Israel Strikes Without Warning in Beirut, Kills at Least 15 as Cease-Fire Sought

UP NEXT

Trump Taps Rollins as Ag Chief in Final Cabinet Pick

UP NEXT

Fresno State Becomes Bowl Eligible, Defeats Colorado State on Senior Night

UP NEXT

After Fresno Visit, Newsom Announces $24.7M Taxpayer-Funded Apprenticeship Program

UP NEXT

How Will Merced County Fund Public Safety After Measure R’s Failure?

UP NEXT

Sacramento Region Gained People but Flubbed Economic Opportunities Over 50 Years

UP NEXT

Nations at UN Climate Talks Agree on $300B a Year for Poor Countries in a Compromise Deal

UP NEXT

What to Know About Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Trump’s Pick for Labor Secretary

UP NEXT

What to Know About Scott Turner, Trump’s Pick for Housing Secretary

UP NEXT

Trump Taps Investor Scott Bessent as Treasury Secretary

Fresno State Becomes Bowl Eligible, Defeats Colorado State on Senior Night

43 minutes ago

After Fresno Visit, Newsom Announces $24.7M Taxpayer-Funded Apprenticeship Program

3 hours ago

How Will Merced County Fund Public Safety After Measure R’s Failure?

3 hours ago

As Atmospheric River Soaks California, Farmworkers Await Flood Aid Promised in 2023

5 hours ago

Sacramento Region Gained People but Flubbed Economic Opportunities Over 50 Years

5 hours ago

Nations at UN Climate Talks Agree on $300B a Year for Poor Countries in a Compromise Deal

17 hours ago

What to Know About Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Trump’s Pick for Labor Secretary

20 hours ago

What to Know About Scott Turner, Trump’s Pick for Housing Secretary

1 day ago

Trump Taps Investor Scott Bessent as Treasury Secretary

1 day ago

NATO Head and Trump Meet in Florida for Talks on Global Security

1 day ago

Augillard, Douglas Lead the Way as Bulldogs Rally Past Long Beach State

LONG BEACH — Amar Augillard led Fresno State with 25 points and David Douglas Jr. made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 42 seconds left as the Bull...

15 minutes ago

15 minutes ago

Augillard, Douglas Lead the Way as Bulldogs Rally Past Long Beach State

31 minutes ago

Israel Strikes Without Warning in Beirut, Kills at Least 15 as Cease-Fire Sought

34 minutes ago

Trump Taps Rollins as Ag Chief in Final Cabinet Pick

43 minutes ago

Fresno State Becomes Bowl Eligible, Defeats Colorado State on Senior Night

3 hours ago

After Fresno Visit, Newsom Announces $24.7M Taxpayer-Funded Apprenticeship Program

3 hours ago

How Will Merced County Fund Public Safety After Measure R’s Failure?

5 hours ago

As Atmospheric River Soaks California, Farmworkers Await Flood Aid Promised in 2023

5 hours ago

Sacramento Region Gained People but Flubbed Economic Opportunities Over 50 Years

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend