'I'm going to go to the Olympics': Sam Kendricks wins another U.S. title and will join Team USA in Paris

There was never a doubt from the competition side that Sam Kendricks would qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics and the former Oxford and Ole Miss standout pole vaulter cemented it on Sunday.

But it was comments made by Kendricks on Friday after the qualifying round in Eugene, Oregon that created the drama after the men’s pole vault final was concluded.

Not out on the field of Howard Stadium but inside at the media gaggle was where the bigger drama was looming after Kendricks said on Friday he may “not even go” if he qualifies for his third Olympics after the events that transpired three years ago in Tokyo.

Kendricks cruised through the final, missing only one of six attempts and cleared his first five heights on the first try, to win his seventh U.S. Outdoor Title and 11th U.S. pole vault championship overall (four U.S. Outdoor titles).

He did so with a meet record of 5.92 meters cleared. Comparing Friday’s qualifying event to Sunday’s final there was a switched flipped, emotionally, for Kendricks. While it looked as if Kendricks was going through the motions on auto pilot to start the weekend, he ended it with determination and motivation on his mind, clapping after every successful vault.

The answer to a mystery created on Friday was provided by Kendricks seconds into speaking with reporters.

“I said that I may not accept my spot on the Olympic team, I will. I’m going to go to the Olympics,” Kendricks said.

There was a condition Kendricks put on himself that hinged on if he would go to Paris next month, according to him, and it was that he would go if one of two friends made the team, as well. One of those two friends was Chris Nilsen who finished second behind Kendricks.

“They’ve been my brothers for a long time, now and I’ve been in this sport at the highest levels and the road is lonely, you want to have your friends by your side,” Kendricks said.

When asked twice what changed his mind 48 hours removed from seemingly drawing a line in the sand, Kendricks credited his coach and father, Scott Kendricks.

Kendricks still holds some negative feelings towards the Olympics, as an entity, and for what happened three years ago.

A positive COVID-19 test removed Kendricks from the 2021 Summer Games before he could compete. Instead of going for a second straight Olympic medal Kendricks was put in quarantine away from the Olympic village and from the rest of Team USA.

Three years later Kendricks returned to the U.S. Olympic Trials and once again punched the ticket to go to this third straight Olympics. He won the bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Games in Brazil.

“We’re trying to rebuild this year,” Kendricks said. “We’re trying to re-consolidate. We’re going to re-assert a positive view for Team USA. I’m going to be the captain of my pole vault squad. I’m going to be positive force for Team USA. I’m going to hold everybody accountable to their position and their job, bringing us back home better than we leave the States. That’s their job, not winning medals like everybody thinks it is. Our job is to come back home, represent well and make sure we put the flag on our shoulders the right way.”

The 2024 Paris Summer Games runs from July 24 to August 11. Kendricks will not compete until August 3 with the men’s pole vault qualifying round. The finals will be on August 5.