Updated 14.43 | Published 14.40
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Mondo Duplantis digs gold during his two Diamond League contests in China.
He has never been paid more in any other gala competition.
His weekly salary in China breaks all records.
– Yes, he gets paid well. But they have had a desire for him for several years, when they could not have any competitions, says his manager Daniel Wessfeldt.
On Saturday, Mondo ends its short KIna tour with the second Diamond League competition of the season in Suzhou outside Shanghai.
In the first event in Xiamen last Saturday he set a world record with 6.24 and it rattled the bank account with all the new bonuses that fell out.
And now he is betting on his second world record in just one week.
– Yes, I’ve been walking like on a cloud for the past week and now I’m aiming to do something similar here in the second competition. I always try to jump as high as I possibly can and I know that the form is good and that the technique is correct, he says at the press conference before the competition.
But even without a world record, Mondo had set a personal record in money earned in the two gala competitions he does in China.
It is also no coincidence that the Chinese managed to get men’s pole vault as an official Diamond League branch in both of their competitions, despite the fact that the organizers are fighting over it.
China’s Wanda Group is the main sponsor of the Diamond League and secured the future of the competitions when they signed a ten-year deal in 2019.
And Mondo was in a prime seat when his contract for the races was being negotiated.
He receives a record sum just in so-called appearance fees just for being there and regardless of how well or poorly he performs.
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“You can have that”
In that context, the Diamonds League’s official prize money, where a victory brings 10,000 dollars or about 110,000 Swedish kronor, is just a pittance.
In Mondo’s case, it is about millions of dollars just to stand up.
– I can only say that the Chinese pay well, says Wessfeldt.
The world record in Xiamen multiplied the income.
Not only because of all the multi-million dollar bonuses that fall out from Mondo’s personal sponsors, but also a hefty bonus from the tournament organizer.
All Diamond League competitions must, according to the rules, pay at least 50,000 dollars – 550,000 kroner – for a world record.
– But then you can have a separate settlement, says Wessfeldt.
And Mondo has it in China?
– He can have that.
Take that as a yes in a sport where all earnings and bonus deals are kept secret and expect Mondo to get at least double that.
Saturday’s gala in Shanghai will be broadcast on tv4 starting at 12.00 Swedish time.
The question is whether we will see another world record – and a new rain of millions.
