Pole vaulter Armand “Mondo” Duplantis breaks the world record for the 14th time at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Armand “Mondo” Duplantis, the Swedish pole vault sensation, has once again cemented his status as the greatest of all time, breaking the world record for an incredible 14th time.
Competing at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, the 25-year-old cleared an astonishing 6.30 metres (20 feet, 8 inches), delighting a packed stadium and claiming his third consecutive world title.
The record-breaking jump came on Duplantis’s third and final attempt, a nerve-wracking moment for the crowd that had stayed to watch him go for history.
After securing the gold medal with an earlier clearance, Duplantis had the bar raised to 6.30m.
He failed on his first two attempts, but with the pressure at its peak, he soared over the bar on his last chance, with the bar trembling but ultimately staying in place.
From Louisiana to Pole Vault Royalty
Born and raised in Louisiana, Duplantis has been a prodigy since childhood, perfecting his craft in his backyard with his father and coach, Greg Duplantis.
His career has been a relentless assault on the record books. He first broke the world record in February 2020, and since then, he has consistently raised the bar by a single centimetre, a strategic move that has earned him substantial bonuses and solidified his dominance in the sport.
His performance in Tokyo was a masterclass in both athleticism and showmanship. After his final jump, a jubilant Duplantis leaped into the arms of his competitors and celebrated with the crowd, a stark contrast to his first major title in the same stadium at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, which was held without spectators due to the pandemic.
A Legacy in the Making
Duplantis’s latest record adds to an already legendary list of accomplishments, including two Olympic gold medals, five Diamond League titles, and a winning streak that now spans over two years and nearly 50 meets.
His 14th world record puts him on track to surpass the 17 outdoor records set by the pole vault legend Sergey Bubka, a feat many once considered impossible.
The win in Tokyo not only adds to his medal count but also provides a $100,000 bonus for the new world record, a fitting reward for an athlete who continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in his sport.
