Gennaro Scala
In Uppsala, the Swedish athlete improved the world record for the 15th time and secured his 39th consecutive victory. The last record came in September.
The bar rises again, centimeter by centimeter, as if gravity were an irrelevant variable. In Uppsala, at the arena bearing his name, Armand “Mondo” Duplantis has once again rewritten the history of athletics during the Mondo Classic 2026. With a masterful jump of 6.31 meters, the Swedish phenomenon has set his 15th world record, thrilling the home crowd and confirming a dominance bordering on stylistic perfection. Today’s achievement adds a new chapter to a legendary progression that began in February 2020 in Toruń, when a young Duplantis erased Renaud Lavillenie’s record by clearing 6.17 meters. Since then, the Swede has embarked on a solitary climb against himself, echoing the famous strategy of Sergei Bubka: improving the world record by one centimeter at a time.
Prior to today, the last step in this ascent was reached at the World Championships in Tokyo in September 2025, where he set the limit at 6.30 meters. In between, the intermediate passages that have marked the last five years remain etched in memory, from 6.19 in Belgrade to 6.24 in Xiamen and beyond, in a triumphant march that knows no setbacks. The competition in Uppsala was no contest for the top spot on the podium, despite the excellent performance of Norwegian Sondre Guttormsen, who stopped just short of 6.00 meters, and the solid performances of Zachery Bradford and the evergreen Sam Kendricks. For Duplantis, this victory represents his 39th consecutive success, a streak that transforms each of his appearances into a celebratory event rather than a traditional athletic challenge. While his opponents fight for excellence, “Mondo” continues to float in a solitary dimension.
Duplantis’s relentless pursuit of improvement mirrors the approach taken by pole vaulting legend Sergei Bubka, who also consistently pushed the boundaries of the sport by incrementally raising the world record. This strategy, while demanding, has proven remarkably effective for Duplantis, allowing him to steadily build upon his achievements and maintain his position at the pinnacle of the sport. The athlete’s consistency is remarkable; 39 consecutive wins demonstrate a level of dominance rarely seen in track and field.
The Mondo Classic in Uppsala has quickly become a significant event on the pole vaulting calendar, largely due to Duplantis’s consistent presence and record-breaking performances. The arena, named in his honor, provides a supportive and enthusiastic atmosphere that seems to inspire the Swedish star to even greater heights. The event itself is a testament to Duplantis’s popularity and the growing interest in pole vaulting worldwide.
Looking ahead, the question on everyone’s mind is: how high can Duplantis go? With each record broken, the bar is raised not only physically but also in terms of expectations. The athlete’s dedication to training and his unwavering focus suggest that he is far from finished pushing the limits of what is possible in the pole vault. Fans and experts alike will be eagerly watching to see what new heights he reaches in the coming seasons.
