The Swedish-American pole vault star competed in his first competition since the Diamond League in Stockholm on June 7. The world record holder lost a competition for the first time in almost three years after he cleared 5.80 metres, as did Australian winner Kurtis Marschall.
"Mondo" explained that he was "out of his mind" and was referring to his thoughts about his and wife Desiré Inglander's three-day wedding celebration on the French Riviera, which was to be held that same week. The couple married at Stockholm City Hall in March earlier this year.
Back in shape
After sitting out Oslo's Diamond League gala on June 10 - having his big wedding party - and then also sitting out the DL gala in Doha, Qatar, on Midsummer's Eve, "Mondo" was back in competition kit on Sunday at Stade Sébastien Charléty in Paris.
It was an immediate victory for the 26-year-old, who was back in good old form. Duplantis was the only jumper over six metres and broke his own competition record (6.01 from 2021) when he jumped 6.03. He then took 6.13 before attempting the world record height of 6.32. There were three misses and the record of 6.31 from his own indoor gala in Uppsala in March stands.
Almgren third
I'm pretty happy. I feel good. I felt very hungry before the competition and wanted to make a little "statement". I think it will be 6.32 very soon, says Armand Duplantis to SVT.
The next DL gala is in Eugene, Oregon, on Saturday, July 4 - the United States' national holiday.
I'm ready to continue and have a good second part of the season.
For other Swedes in the athletics competition in Paris, there was a third place for Andreas Almgren in the 5,000 metres, a fourth place and a fifth place for Axelina Johansson and Fanny Roos in the shot put.
