Duplantis Soars to 6.30m and a Third World Title in Tokyo

Armand "Mondo" Duplantis, the Swedish pole vault sensation, cemented his status as the greatest to ever grace the event, adding a new world record and a third consecutive world championship title to his already astonishing resume. In a captivating display of athletic dominance and showmanship at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, the 25-year-old cleared a staggering 6.30m, marking the 14th time he has broken his own world record. The feat was not just a victory but a spectacle, a testament to his relentless pursuit of perfection and his ability to perform under the immense pressure of a captivated global audience.
The atmosphere in the Japan National Stadium was electric, with a packed crowd of 53,000 having stayed well past the conclusion of other events, their collective attention fixed on the final act of the evening. They had come to see Duplantis and he did not disappoint. Having already secured the gold medal with a comfortable clearance, he had the bar raised to 6.30m, a height that no man had ever cleared. It was a calculated risk, a direct challenge to the limits of human possibility in the pole vault. He had broken the world record three times already in 2025, each time by the smallest possible increment of one centimeter, and this was to be the fourth.
His first two attempts at the new height were agonizingly close, with the bar wobbling precariously but ultimately succumbing to the laws of physics. However, with the crowd roaring its encouragement and a palpable sense of anticipation, Duplantis took to the runway for his final attempt. He executed his routine with his characteristic blend of speed and precision, sprinting down the runway, planting his pole with incredible force, and launching himself into the air. The crowd held its breath as he soared over the bar, which gave a slight quiver before settling into place. The stadium erupted in a deafening roar as he landed safely on the mat and immediately jumped up to celebrate, his face a mixture of relief and pure elation.
This historic jump not only secured his third world title, a remarkable achievement that puts him in an elite class of athletes, but also extended his phenomenal winning streak to 49 consecutive competitions since September 2022. The victory in Tokyo was particularly meaningful for Duplantis, who had won his first senior global title at the same stadium during the 2021 Olympics, an event held without spectators due to the pandemic. This time, he was able to share the moment with a passionate crowd that had waited patiently to witness history.
The competition itself was a testament to the rising standard of the sport, with a record-breaking seven men clearing 5.90m or higher. However, once Duplantis entered the competition, it became a contest for the other medal positions. The silver medal went to Greece's Emmanouil Karalis, who cleared 6.00m, while Australia's Kurtis Marschall took the bronze with a jump of 5.95m. While their performances were outstanding, the night ultimately belonged to Duplantis, who continues to elevate the pole vault to unprecedented heights and inspire a new generation of athletes. His latest record, a clean and powerful 6.30m, stands as a new benchmark in a sport that he has now completely redefined.
Source@BBC