Swede Clinches Consecutive Olympic Gold, Clears 6.25m to Set Ninth World Record
Armand Duplantis revels in his triumph in the men's pole vault.At last, Mondo Duplantis commands the spotlight. The formalities are over—Keely Hodgkinson and Noah Lyles have claimed their gold medals—and for the first time tonight, all eyes are on the 24-year-old Swede, who has roots in Louisiana, as he faces the 6.25m bar suspended in the warm, still air.
Duplantis has already secured his gold medal, marking his second consecutive win. However, this achievement is almost secondary. He had to make four attempts to clinch victory, and in reality, the first two and the fourth attempts were almost superfluous. It's akin to the final act of Eurovision, where the winner is allowed to perform an encore; imagine The Beatles playing an entire album after winning with "Octopus's Garden."
With 18 consecutive victories, nine of the top ten highest vaults in history, and eight world records in just four years, Duplantis is judged by a different standard. The evening has focused on the much-anticipated showdown: Duplantis versus gravity, Duplantis versus the laws of physics, and Duplantis versus his own record from four months ago, which stands at 6.24m. The bar is now set at 6.25m.
He begins with two unsuccessful attempts. Criticizing a double Olympic champion for failing to break the world record feels almost absurd. Yet, this is a rare opportunity for a truly historic moment at these Games, especially in a sport as unique and enigmatic as pole vaulting.
Pole vaulting is an event few truly understand and even fewer master. The entry barrier—pun intended—is incredibly high. Duplantis, the son of a pole vaulter, started training at just four years old in his backyard. While this early start is significant, it's the extraordinary skill, exceptional physical conditioning, rapid sprinting, precise grip strength, and gymnastic flexibility that truly set him apart. All of these elements, combined with the use of a pole that seems straight out of a Laurel and Hardy film, contribute to his success.
Duplantis has the potential to elevate the pole vault to new heights. With his distinctive look—floppy hair, intense gaze, and preppy style reminiscent of a Timothée Chalamet character in a Vampire Weekend video—he could bring the sport the recognition it deserves. Like Sergey Bubka before him, Duplantis earns a handsome bonus for each world record he sets. Over the past 40 years, Bubka and Duplantis have collectively broken the world record 25 times, usually by just a centimeter. Yet, none of these records have been achieved in an Olympic setting.
As the vaulters head out for warm-up, the contrast is clear: while the others carry backpacks, Duplantis rolls in with a designer wheelie suitcase. In few sports can you discern the likely winner by their warm-up gear, but here, even a novice pole vaulter would likely bet on the guy with the high-end luggage.
The wait begins. For Armand “Mondo” Duplantis, waiting is part of the routine. He’s the only competitor to skip the initial 5.50m height, lounging on the floor while the others take their turns, rhythmically drumming his knees to the stadium’s beat. He clears 5.70m effortlessly, as if stepping over a small obstacle. He breezes through 5.80m and glides over 5.85m with such ease that it’s hard to imagine he could even graze the bar if he tried.
Sam Kendricks of the United States and Emmanouil Karalis of Greece both clear 5.90m, celebrating with football-style enthusiasm. Duplantis, meanwhile, passes 5.90m with a casual air before vaulting 5.95m with nonchalance, almost as if he were enjoying a cigarillo. This moment, however, occurs almost unnoticed amidst the louder celebrations and records set elsewhere, such as Hodgkinson’s Olympic record of 6.10m.
Finally, the spotlight turns to Duplantis. As he approaches his third and final attempt, the crowd’s roar is immense and singularly focused on him. He begins his run, soon to be airborne and among the stars, the centerpiece of this grand spectacle.
For now, let’s leave him in mid-air, soaring higher than any human before, transcending the earthly plane and moving toward immortality. Read more
