Uppsala, Sweden – Armand Duplantis, the two-time Olympic champion and dominant force in pole vaulting, continued his historic run on Thursday, breaking his own world record for the 15th time. The Swedish athlete cleared 6.31 meters at the Mondo Classic in Uppsala, Sweden, a meet named in his honor. This latest record adds another chapter to a career already brimming with accolades and solidifies Duplantis’s place as one of the greatest athletes in track and field history.
The 26-year-aged Duplantis, often referred to as “Mondo,” navigated the heights with apparent ease, clearing 5.65m, 5.90m, and 6.08m on his first attempts. He then boldly requested the bar be raised to a world-record height of 6.31m – a jump of 23 centimeters beyond his previous best – and promptly soared over it to the delight of the home crowd. This marks the second time Duplantis has broken the world record on Swedish soil, following a previous record leap in Stockholm last June.
“I am so proud to have been able to do this in front of you,” Duplantis said to the cheering crowd, as reported by the BBC. “I jump for myself, I jump for my family, but I also jump for you, for Sweden, and for everyone who supports me.” The emotional response underscores the deep connection Duplantis has forged with his fans, particularly in his adopted homeland.
Duplantis’s ascent to pole vaulting supremacy has been nothing short of remarkable. He has incrementally increased the world record by at least one centimeter with each of his 15 record-breaking jumps. Before Duplantis began his reign, the world record stood at 6.16m, set by France’s Renaud Lavillenie in 2014. The difference highlights the sheer magnitude of Duplantis’s dominance and his consistent pushing of the boundaries of the sport.
The U.S.-born Swede, who chose to represent his mother’s homeland, has enjoyed a period of unparalleled success. He became the first man in 68 years to retain the Olympic pole vault title at the Paris 2024 Games, demonstrating his ability to perform under the most intense pressure. His consistency is equally impressive; he hasn’t lost a major final since the 2019 World Athletics Championship in Doha, where he narrowly missed out on gold to Sam Kendricks on a countback.
The conversation surrounding men’s pole vault has largely shifted from who will win to how high Duplantis will jump. His technical prowess, combining lightning-fast runway speed, precise accept-off mechanics, explosive power, and a fearless approach, sets him apart. As the BBC noted, he travels far beyond the average height of a giraffe (5.5m) during his jumps, a testament to the incredible athleticism involved.
Even as Duplantis’s performance was the clear highlight of the Mondo Classic, Norway’s Sondre Guttormsen also achieved a notable result, clearing 6.00 meters. Yet, the day unequivocally belonged to Duplantis, who continues to redefine what’s possible in the world of pole vaulting.
What’s Next: Duplantis is expected to continue competing on the Diamond League circuit throughout the summer, with his next scheduled appearance at a yet-to-be-announced meet in Europe. Fans and analysts alike will be eagerly watching to see if he can continue to push the boundaries of the sport and add even more records to his already impressive resume.
