As the World Athletics Indoor Championships kick off on Friday, Sweden's pole vault world record holder Armand Duplantis has expressed immense anticipation for the event in Nanjing.

"It was my first time competing in China last outdoor season for the first two Diamond Leagues, and I jumped extremely well, breaking the world record at 6.24 meters. So, good vibrations and good memories from last time," Duplantis said in an online interview.

Armand Duplantis of Sweden competes during the men's pole vault final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)

"I'm super excited about the upcoming championships. It's going to be the climax and the most important competition of the indoor season," he added.

Last year, Duplantis competed in the Xiamen and Suzhou legs of the Diamond League, breaking the world record for the eighth time in his career in Xiamen. Despite the young 2025 season, the Swedish sensation has already demonstrated his dominance.

The 25-year-old cleared 6.27 meters at an indoor meet in France on February 28, setting his 11th world record. Last Thursday at the Mondo Classic, he attempted 6.28 meters after securing victory but fell short.

Despite his record-breaking streak, Duplantis has not set a specific target for the Nanjing indoor worlds. "I'm not crazy fixated on any number," he admitted, acknowledging that each increase in height presents a greater challenge as he continues to push the limits of the sport.

"It's such a complex and difficult sport with so many intricacies, which makes it very hard, but also means there are endless possibilities to get better," he said. "You're not going to reach this level without being madly obsessed with the sport."

Currently, his training is focused on refining his sprint, with the goal of clearing 6.30 meters in the near future. While many expect him to break records at every competition, Duplantis insists he doesn't feel much pressure.

Instead, he remains curious about new experiences, like his recent foray into music.

On the same day he set his latest world record, Duplantis released a new song, "Bop," on a streaming platform. The track, which he co-wrote, is not a spur-of-the-moment decision but rather the result of a long-standing passion.

"One of my best friends is a musician, and I have a few buddies in Sweden who are also musicians. A couple of years ago, I found myself in a studio, and I just thought it was unbelievably fun," he said.

"Bop" was finished months ago, and the record holder decided it would be fun to release it on the same day as his competition.

"I thought it was just so fun to dive into it," Duplantis noted.

The Swede sees music as something he will continue to pursue and believes that these off-track endeavors contribute to his mental well-being.

"I do have an obsession with [pole vault] for sure, and I've had it for a long time, but I can live a life without it. I'm pretty confident in that," he said. "Pole vault is not everything. It doesn't completely define who I am."

As he prepares for his trip to Nanjing, Duplantis is eager to experience more than just the competition. "I'll be able to immerse myself in the culture to an even deeper extent this time," he said, adding that he also plans to compete in the two Diamond League meets in China later this year.

"It's cool that we will have more competitions in Asia. Any places I haven't spent much time in would be sick. I've jumped in a lot of places around Europe, which is great, but it would be nice to experience new places, new energy, and new vibrations," he noted.

Duplantis said he tried a variety of Chinese desserts, particularly being impressed by a kind of green bean pastry last year, and he hopes to explore more Chinese cuisine this time.

"Just soak it in," he said.