Toulouse gets into pole vault time
For the second year, Toulouse will host the Toulouse Capitole Perche. The city continues to radiate sportingly internationally.
After the Rugby World Sevens Super Series, the football Amos Cup and the ATP Challenger tournament at Stade Toulousain this week, it’s almost time for the Toulouse Capitole Perche. A competition that will take place on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 September, Place du Capitole. And which confirms the city’s desire to become part of the international sporting landscape. For its second edition, the Toulouse Capitole Perche is evolving and wants to become an important meeting place for pole vaulting. The bleachers could accommodate 1,000 spectators around the jumpers.
Big names announced
This year, the plateau will see some points of discipline. Among the women, Margot Chevrier and Marie-Julie Bonnin will be present. But also the Ukrainian Maryna Kylypko, fifth in the last Olympic Games in Tokyo. Forfeited last year due to injury, Renaud Lavillenie, author of the second performance of all time will be present for this 2022 edition. His younger brother Valentin will also be there. The event will be an opportunity for young pole vaulters to show off. Like Anthony Ammirati, junior world champion and ahead of his time compared to the monsters Duplantis and Lavillenie. Athletes who will be likely to be present in Paris in 2024.
Beyond a festive competition to promote pole vaulting, some athletes come to Toulouse to perform. As Valentin Lavillenie reported at the press conference: “I’m not at all happy with my summer. So I’m going to come to Toulouse to go high, plus I’ve been a dad for a month, it’s the first time I jump in front of my son. I promised myself to beat my personal record in Toulouse.”
Because the pole vaulters will jump in conditions that they appreciate, with their music and close to the public. “We have evaluated in stadiums of 80,000 people sometimes, but we still feel alone. Whereas in street competitions, we are close to the public, we can have an interaction and feel more clamor. And then have the Capitol as a setting, it’s exceptional”, recognizes Valentin Lavillenie.
The event is not just for professionals. Initiations will be possible for young people from the Savary college in Fronton and the Déodat high school in Toulouse on Friday. And to reinforce the local aspect, volunteers from Satuc will be present for the smooth running of the competition.