Armand Duplantis cleared 6.30 in his third and final attempt. His previous world record was 6.29.
It was a just as magical evening in Tokyo as it was at the Olympic Games in Paris last year. In the late and warm Japanese evening, the audience saw a new pole vault gold and world record by Duplantis.
Completely unbelievable. It's hard to explain, says Duplantis.
My goal was to break the world record, but it was a tough competition. I needed to jump more than I planned, but it turned out well in the end.
He secured the victory in Tokyo with a jump over 6.15 meters. The Greek Emmanouil Karalis took silver after he and Duplantis were the only ones who cleared 6.00. The Australian Kurtis Marschall took bronze with 5.95.
Considering that Karalis pushed Duplantis to jump at both 6.10 and 6.15, Duplantis was a bit unbelievable if he had enough energy left to also set a world record.
I felt really good. I didn't want to be too tired at the end, but I don't know if I had much more in me. It's really hot and humid and I'm not used to this type of weather, he says.
14th world record
I just tried to stay calm, needed a very fine jump with a lot of energy. It wasn't that cool, a slightly sloppy attempt if I'm being honest.
The 25-year-old Swedish-American has now taken seven consecutive outdoor championship golds, a streak that began at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021, and he has now set 14 world records.
Unbelievable, can't believe it. It's a beautiful place to jump, but it's been a long day. He's tired now. He's on cloud nine, says dad Greg Duplantis to SVT.
I'm so happy, so proud. It's an indescribable experience. I believed in it. You have to believe in it.
Started at 5.55
Duplantis started at the entry height of 5.55 and was well over. He passed 5.75 and then jumped easily and high over 5.85. He passed 5.90 and took 5.95. With a stiffer pole, he was then well over 6.00. Both he and Karalis passed 6.05. Duplantis cleared 6.10 in the first attempt. Karalis fouled and then saved two jumps. Duplantis then cleared 6.15 in the first attempt, while Karalis fouled. He also fouled his very last jump, which he saved for 6.20.
Duplantis requested the bar to be raised to the world record height of 6.30, one centimeter above his record from Budapest in August. After two fouls, the bar remained, with a little wobble, after the third jump.
Facts: Armand Duplantis
TT
Born: November 10, 1999 in Lafayette, Louisiana, USA (25 years old).
Event: Pole vault.
Club: Upsala IF.
Selection of merits: Olympic Games gold 2024, 2021, World Championship gold 2022, 2023, 2025, European Championship gold 2018, 2022, 2024. Indoors: World Championship gold 2022, 2024, 2025. Set a world record – for the 14th time – when he cleared 6.30 meters.
