Mondo Duplantis continued to separate himself from the mere mortals of pole vault on Monday by breaking is own world record, clearing 6.25m — and claiming his second straight Olympic title.
The crowd at Stade de France was buzzing after the Swedish vaulter’s first attempt cleared 6.10m, with the remainder of the event seeming like just a formality.
But it was on his final attempt that the 24-year-old rose to the occasion and cleared 6.25m, once again pushing past a world record, his ninth time setting a new standard.
He blew past his prior mark by an inch.
“I knew that I pretty much had to hit it close to perfect and I at least needed to be at the right spot at take off to be able to use the pole,” he said. “To jump the world record you have to be pretty much perfect. The rhythm of the run has to be right there.”
American Sam Kendricks took the sliver after clearing 5.95m and Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis was third with 5.9m, but it was clear that the biggest stage Monday night was reserved for Duplantis.
“I knew what these guys were about. When one of them falls another is going to step up and do even better. I’m not surprised that they performed the way they did,” Duplantis said. “I know they’re going to step up when it matters the most. That’s a good thing for me and the sport and it makes it better when everybody’s jumping good and everybody’s pushing each other.”
Duplantis is the first repeat champion in the Olympic pole vault since American Bob Richards (1952, 1956) and his gold on Monday is the latest in a growing resume that includes a win in Tokyo and three world championships.
He first broke the world record in 2020 and pushing past his own mark has now become an expected part of his reputation once he steps on the track.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to do it several times, but every time the feeling is kinda the same,” Duplantis said. “I think this was even more extreme version of the feeling. When I’m going over the bar it doesn’t feel real in a way.”
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