(Left) Armand Mondo Duplantis clears the bar at 6.25m to set a new world record; (Right) Duplantis reacts after setting a new world record in the men’s pole vault final at the Paris Olympics in Saint-Denis. (AP Photo)
Mondo Duplantis wins gold: Pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis soared to new heights on Monday and literally redefined the limits of human possibility by breaking his own world record in pole vault at the Paris Olympics.
Swedish sensation Mondo Duplantis cleared an astonishing 6.25 meters on his third and final attempt, solidifying his status as the undisputed king of the event.
This marks the ninth time that Mondo Duplantis has shattered the world record, a streak which first started on February 8, 2020.
This is Mondo Duplantis’ second consecutive Olympic gold medal. Behind Mondo Duplantis, American Sam Kendricks claimed silver, while Emmanouli Karalis of Greece secured the bronze.
Remarkably, Mondo Duplantis already had his gold medal secured by leaping over 6.10m on the night. But then he had the bar moved one centimeter higher than the world-record height. He missed his first attempt. Then there was a break as the 100 metres medal ceremony was to be held where Americans Noah Lyles and Fred Kerley besides Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson received their medals.
After missing his second attempt, Mondo Duplantis nailed his third effort of the night at the new world record height.
(Left) Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis clears the bar at 6.25m to set a new world record; Duplantis reacts after setting a new world record in the men’s pole vault final at the Paris Olympics in Saint-Denis. (AP Photo)
The Associated Press reports that while all of the other events were over, most of the crowd, including the king and queen of Sweden, stayed in the arena, singing along to the French song “Alleur de Feu” — “Light the Fire” — and clapping in rhythm.
Finally, Mondo Duplantis lined up for the last try and cleared it, then went sprinting toward the stands to celebrate, first with his girlfriend and then with his parents, where an old rival Renaud Lavillenie was also there.
Armand Duplantis’ world records
Full list of Armand Duplantis’ world and European medals:
2015: World Youth Champion
2016: World Junior bronze medallist
2017: European Junior Champion
2018: World Junior Champion & European Champion
2019: World Championships silver medallist
2021: Tokyo 2020 Olympic Champion, European Indoor Champion
2022: World Champion, European Champion
2023: World Champion
