Tokyo: ArmandDuplantis reaffirmed his undisputed status as the pole vault’s leading man by producing yet another world record-breaking performance at the World Athletics Championships.

On Monday night, the 24-year-old Swede cleared 6.30m, setting a world record for the 14th time in his career — and the fourth time in 2025 alone. Watch the video below:

 

With that leap, Duplantis not only clinched his third straight World Championships gold but also etched another page into athletics history.

The Tokyo National Stadium, packed with fans unlike the muted pandemic edition of the 2021 Olympics, erupted as Duplantis turned the men’s pole vault final into an unforgettable theatre of sport.

The quality of competition was unprecedented — seven vaulters cleared 5.90m for the first time in World Championships history. Yet the contest ultimately distilled into a duel between Duplantis and Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis, who soared over 6m before bowing out after near-misses at 6.10m and 6.15m.

Having secured gold, Duplantis shifted his sights to history. Twice he brushed the bar at 6.30m, before producing his masterpiece on the third attempt — cheered on, remarkably, by silver medallist Karalis himself, who fanned him between jumps and led the crowd in applause.

When the bar stayed aloft, the stadium exploded. Duplantis sprinted into Karalis’s arms, embraced his family, and sealed the night with a kiss for his girlfriend.

“It’s better than I could have imagined,” Duplantis said, soaking in the moment. “To give you guys this world record is amazing. The crowd was so loud. Thank you so much. I’m just so happy.”

Australia’s Kurtis Marschall claimed bronze, matching his personal best of 5.95m, and summed up the sentiment of rivals-turned-admirers: “Armandis from another planet. He’s doing things many thought were impossible.”

Tokyo 2025 has already produced stunning athletics moments — from Melissa Jefferson-Wooden’s 100m gold to Usain Bolt watching Noah Lyles dethroned — but Duplantis’s 6.30m may stand tallest.