Armand “Mondo” Duplantis stole the show at the World Athletics Championships, breaking the world record for the 14th time. He succeeded in defending his pole vault with a 6.30 m clearance in Tokyo.
Duplantis won Olympic gold at the same venue in 2021, but that triumph came in front of empty stands due to COVID-19 restrictions. Four years later, the atmosphere was completely transformed, with over 50,000 fans packing the stadium and roaring the 25-year-old to glory.
“I felt the only way to leave Japan was to set the world record. That was my mentality,” stated Duplantis.
“I think that the difference maker was being able to have the spectators and have the full energy of the crowd, because it was one of the best stadiums and atmospheres and experiences that I’ve ever had. I think that really helped towards the end when it was starting to get a little bit later and we were getting a little bit more tired,” he added.
Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis, Duplantis’ long-time rival since their junior days, secured silver with a 6.00 m clearance, while Australia’s Kurtis Marschall earned bronze with a personal-best 5.95 m.
While talking about Karalis, “I was pushed very hard by Emmanouil today; he’s just a super tough competitor. I’m really proud of the way that he competed, not only today, but throughout the whole year.”
Though he has long dominated the event, Duplantis insisted that breaking the record was far from easy.
“I know people think that I just do it in my backyard all the time. But it does not work that way, even though I have racked up quite a few of them (records). You have to get the numbers right. You have to get everything perfect and every tiny little detail right to make it,” he said.
