After shedding a few tears in Rio, Renaud Lavillenie could allow himself a broad smile in Paris on Saturday evening. The Olympic silver medallist, who received a standing ovation at the Stade de France, made light work of the competition in the pole vault, producing a victorious jump of 5.93m, a height he cleared at his first attempt. The Diamond League leader subsequently made three attempts at 6m, but it was not to be on this occasion. In racking up the seventh MEETING de PARIS success of his career, Lavillenie finished ahead of the second-placed American, Sam Kendricks (bronze medallist in Rio), who could only manage 5.81m, and the third-placed Czech, Jan Kudlicka (5.71m). The other French athlete in the running, Stanley Joseph, cleared 5.36m to finish seventh.
27 August, 2016
