ROME, July 3 — Pole vault world record holder Armand Duplantis and 2026 Winter Olympic speed skating team pursuit members were among the winners of the 30th Fair Play Menarini International Award when the awarding ceremony was held on Thursday evening in Florence, Italy.
Duplantis, a 26-year-old Olympic champion, received this year’s “Legendary Figure” award. Recalling the fair play moment that left the deepest impression on him during his career, he spoke about an Athletics Diamond League meeting in Gateshead, Britain, in 2021. “It was raining, and I was holding the umbrella for Sam Kendricks, the American pole vaulter, to make sure that his grip didn’t get too wet, and he ended up beating me. He did the same for me as well, so I would say that was a very nice act of fair play. We have a lot of respect for each other and a really good brotherhood,” Duplantis said.
In March, Duplantis cleared 6.31 meters to improve his own world record by one centimeter. It was the 15th time Duplantis had improved the world record since first setting it in 2020 with a clearance of 6.17m. “I think I have a lot more world records in the tank. For me right now, it’s mostly just about trying to keep pushing forward and trying to keep being a little bit better. 6.40 meters is for sure one of my big goals,” he said at the ceremony.
The trio of Davide Ghiotto, Andrea Giovannini and Michele Malfatti, Milan-Cortina Winter Games champions, also joined the winners that included former Argentine footballer Diego Milito, former Italian footballer Gianfranco Zola and Italian para alpine skier Chiara Mazzel. Giovannini, who won one gold and one bronze medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics, shared this year’s “Fair Play and Team Spirit” award with his teammates. They helped Italy return to the top of the Olympic podium in the men’s team pursuit speed skating event after 20 years.
“A few years ago, one of my opponents broke a shoelace shortly before the start. He was a bit in trouble because he couldn’t find a spare place. I lent him one, and he was able to compete in that race,” Giovannini recalled. “I think fair play is the fundamental basis of sport. The true value of an athlete is not defined only by the results he can achieve, but also by how he behaves on the field of play,” he added.
Xinhua proud partner of the African Youth Newspaper
