Olympic Pole Vault: Armand Duplantis Clinches Gold with Spectacular World Record
Pole vaulters Olympics: Swedish phenom Armand “Mondo” Duplantis etched his name in the annals of Olympic history with a breathtaking performance that left spectators in awe. On Tuesday morning (AEST), the world’s premier pole vaulter not only secured a gold medal but also shattered his own world record, cementing his status as a true legend of the sport.
In a heart-stopping finale, Duplantis faced one last attempt at an unprecedented height of 6.25 metres. With the eyes of 75,000 spectators fixed upon him, “Mondo” launched himself skyward, gracefully clearing the bar and rewriting the record books. This monumental leap surpassed his previous world record of 6.24m, marking the eighth time he has elevated the pole vault world record.
The silver medal went to American Sam Kendricks, who cleared 5.95m, while Greek athlete Emmanouil Karalis claimed bronze with a jump of 5.90m. Australia’s Kurtis Marschall finished sixth, reaching a height of 5.85m – an impressive feat considering his recent recovery from a painful ankle dislocation at the national athletics championships in Adelaide just three months prior.
Olympic Pole Vaulters: A Display of Superhuman Prowess
Marschall, who had secured bronze at the previous year’s world championships in Budapest, had hoped to claim his first Olympic medal in Paris. Although he fell short of the podium, the West Australian found solace in witnessing “Mondo” make track and field history from his vantage point beside the runway.
Duplantis’ victory marked a successful defense of his Tokyo 2020 gold medal, making him only the second athlete in history to win two Olympic pole vault gold medals. This remarkable achievement places him alongside American Bob Richards, who accomplished the feat in the Helsinki 1952 and Melbourne 1956 Games.
The 24-year-old Swedish sensation had already secured the gold medal when he cleared six metres. Undeterred, he raised the bar to 6.10m – seven centimeters above the Olympic record – and sailed over it on his first attempt.
With his sights set on even greater heights, Duplantis then attempted 6.25m, a mere millimeter higher than his previous record of 6.24m set in Xiamen, China, in April. After two unsuccessful attempts at this stratospheric height, he stunned the Stade de France crowd with the most extraordinary leap ever witnessed in the sport.
Overcome with emotion following his incredible achievement, Duplantis sprinted towards the front row of the audience, sharing a passionate embrace with his partner.
Australian Olympic pole vault champion Steve Hooker, commentating for Nine, remarked, “Gravity looks like it just works a little bit different for ‘Mondo’ Duplantis.”
Marschall, reflecting on Duplantis’ record-breaking jump, said, “We all knew it was coming. I think he was just teasing us with the first two misses. … It is sick to be dragged along by him. To follow in his footsteps is more than I could have hoped for in this sport. Yeah, 5.85m may have gotten me a gold in another era, but that is just crazy right now.”
This awe-inspiring display of athletic prowess has not only redefined the limits of pole vaulting but has also inspired a new generation of athletes to reach for the stars. As the world continues to marvel at Duplantis’ superhuman abilities, one can only wonder what heights he will conquer next.
