Swedish double Olympic pole vault champion Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis improved his existing world record by a centimeter on Sunday, clearing a height of 6.28 meters at the Stockholm Diamond League meet.
With victory already secured, Duplantis broke the world record for the 12th time, soaring over the bar on his first attempt and surpassing his previous record of 6.27 meters set in February. The 25-year-old celebrated by ripping off his shirt and racing down the track in front of jubilant home spectators at the Olympic stadium, which was built for the 1912 Games.
Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena finished seventh in the meet, successfully clearing 5.70 meters on his second attempt at that height. However, he faltered three times at 5.80 meters, missing out on the podium. Despite this, it marked an improvement from his previous Diamond League stop in Oslo, where he recorded “no mark.”
This was the first time Duplantis has broken the world record in Sweden, a feat he described as “an absolute dream” after the Oslo event earlier in the week.
Duplantis notched his 37th victory in 41 Diamond League outings, finishing well ahead of Australia’s Kurtis Marschall, who achieved a best height of 5.90 meters. The US-born Duplantis showcased his dominance in another impressive display of elite vaulting.
He first set the world record in 2020 when he surpassed the previous mark of 6.16 meters held by French pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie. Lavillenie, now 38, came in fourth on Sunday after clearing 5.80 meters.