Sam Kendricks celebrates during the men's pole vault final at the Paris Olympic Games.
Sam Kendricks of Team United States celebrates during the Men's Pole Vault Final on day ten of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 05, 2024 in Paris, France.
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U.S. silver medalist Sam Kendricks joined NBCOlympics.com for an exclusive interview following his clutch performance in the men's pole vault final. He had quite a few memorable sound bites, so we thought we'd share a few of the best ones with you.

On his doppelganger:

I’ve been accused of talking like Matthew McConaughey one too many times a day. I think he talks like me.

On his trusted friend:

Graham, my old pole. All my great poles are well named.

On the tension during the pole vault final:

It's like a Scorsese movie every freaking jump.

To a young intern:

Have you ever seen Freddie Mercury perform?

On cutting his hand and trying not to get blood on his uniform:

You ever seen Remember the Titans?

On his first Olympics in 2016:

In Rio it rained. They ran out of beer in the stadium. It didn't quite feel like what I thought I wanted to feel like.

On the allure of track and field:

It's intoxicating, because everybody gives you permission to forget about everything else, like your credit card bills or a relationship that's not going so well.

On being named Sam (while talking to Sam):

I'll be Android 1.0, you can be Android 2.0. We’re all made in a factory.

On his son (who is named Alistair):

My boy's name is Hoot. ... Like a little hoot owl.