Sweden’s Armand Duplantis takes the pole vault world title with a new world record
Armand Duplantis after setting a new world record.© AFP
Sweden’s Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis completed his medal haul when he dominated the pole vault for world gold in a new world record on Sunday. Olympic champion Duplantis, looking for an elusive first world title, triumphed with a best of 6.21m, bettering his previous best set by 1cm when he won gold at the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade in March. American Chris Nilsen took silver with an effort of 5.94m on countback from Ernest Obiang, whose bronze was a first world medal of any color for the Philippines.
“Not too bad, huh?!” Duplantis said before addressing the crowd. “You gave me good energy and helped me get over the bar.
“This is great and I love being in Eugene, it’s a pleasure to be here.”
Duplantis came in at 5.70m and needed two attempts at 5.87 before sailing over 6.00m and 6.06m, the latter breaking by 1cm the previous championship record set by Australian Dmitri Markov in Canada 2001.
The barrier went up to 6.21m and amid the raucous razzmatazz of the 4x400m relays, the US-born and bred Duplantis came nowhere close on his first attempt.
Promoted
He had time to adjust for his second, though, and calmly collected his thoughts before launching himself down the track, a packed Hayward Field watching with bated breath.
The Swede, just 22, sailed over for his fifth world record – and third this year – to send the crowd into a frenzy and fittingly bring the curtain down on the world championships in Oregon.
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