Saint-Denis: Armand Duplantis, affectionately known as "Mondo," captured the hearts of 80,000 spectators at the Stade de France with a breathtaking display of pole vaulting prowess that left an indelible mark on Olympic history.

As the evening's other track events concluded, Duplantis took centre stage. With his signature poise, he balanced the pole on his shoulder, took a deep breath, and launched himself down the runway. In a seamless display of athleticism, he soared into the night sky, clearing 6.25 metres (20 feet, 6 inches), securing both another Olympic gold medal and a new world record.

For Duplantis, a 24-year-old Louisiana native competing for Sweden, this marked the ninth time he had shattered the world record, yet it was his first on the grandest stage of his sport.

Amid thunderous applause, Duplantis sprinted to the stands where his girlfriend and a sea of friends and family adorned in Sweden's colours awaited. Even the country's king and queen witnessed firsthand as Sweden celebrated another milestone in pole vaulting excellence.

Reflecting on his achievement, Duplantis shared his disbelief: "It's hard to understand, honestly. If I don't surpass this moment in my career, then I'm pretty okay with that. I don't think you can get much better than what just happened."

The spectacle unfolded against the backdrop of Noah Lyles, the American sprint sensation who electrified the track just a day earlier with a razor-thin victory in the men's 100 metres. Lyles, now a gold medalist himself, watched in awe as Duplantis reached heights akin to a two-story building.

The excitement continued for over half an hour after a quiet finish to the women's 5,000 metres and Keely Hodgkinson's historic win in the 800 metres, securing Britain's first gold of the meet.

However, the night belonged to Duplantis. His dominance in the pole vault drew admiration from fellow athletes like American Sam Kendricks, who praised Mondo's exceptional talent and dedication to the sport. "He's got a great coach, a deep understanding of the event, and he's a true fan of sport," Kendricks remarked, adding, "He's got God's hand on his back."

With his second consecutive Olympic gold and his ninth world record, each time by a mere centimetre, Duplantis now stands shoulder to shoulder with legends like Sergei Bubka, etching his name among the greatest in the history of pole vaulting.

In the realm of field events, Duplantis is rivalled perhaps only by America's Ryan Crouser, a shot put world-record holder and three-time Olympic gold medalist. Yet when it comes to captivating audiences and delivering breathtaking performances, Duplantis stands alone.

Following his victory over Kendricks and his breaking of the Olympic record at 6.10 metres, Duplantis raised the bar by a centimetre higher than the world-record height. Despite a couple of missed attempts, he maintained composure, taking breaks to review video footage with his parents, who first met on LSU's track team.

As fans rhythmically clapped and sang "Allumez le Feu" ("Light the Fire"), preparing for Mondo's historic leap, Duplantis remained rooted in his roots—a home-grown talent nurtured in Lafayette, Louisiana, where he first honed his skills on a pole vault pit dug by his parents in their backyard.

Dreams of breaking world records at the Olympics fueled Duplantis's tireless training sessions. "For it to actually happen the way that it did and for me to put the right jump together at the right time, it's just, like, how do you explain it?" he marvelled. "It's bigger than words for me."

Duplantis's triumph capped off a night that saw Kenya's Beatrice Chebet stun in the women's 5,000 metres, upsetting teammate Faith Kipyegon. Kipyegon initially faced disqualification for a tussle with world-record holder Gudaf Tsegay but won an appeal, relegating Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands to the bronze.

Meanwhile, Lyles returned to the track for the 200 metres after his late-night win in the 100, battling fatigue on only four hours of sleep. Despite his exhaustion, he won his heat in 20.19 seconds.

Among the evening's highlights was Hodgkinson's victory in the 800 metres, securing Britain's first gold of the track meet. Her triumph added to the silver she earned behind Athing Mu in 2021, a testament to her consistency and determination.

As the night drew to a close, echoes of Duplantis's record-breaking feat reverberated through the stadium. Outside, the Swedish anthem blared proudly, a fitting tribute to Mondo's monumental achievement that left fans and fellow athletes alike in awe.

In the annals of Olympic history, Armand Duplantis's name now shines brightly alongside the greats, his legacy cemented as one of pole vaulting finest and an embodiment of sporting excellence. AP