Sweden’s Armand Duplantis reaffirmed his status as the undisputed king of pole vaulting after soaring to his third straight World Championships gold and rewriting history with yet another world record in Tokyo.
The 25-year-old cleared 6.30m on his third attempt at the National Stadium on Monday night, not only clinching victory but also pushing the global standard higher for the 14th time since 2020.
Duplantis’ triumph underscored a remarkable streak of consistency and dominance in a discipline where millimetres often separate champions from the rest. His ability to continuously raise the bar — literally centimetre by centimetre — has redefined the sport over the last six years.
Since eclipsing Renaud Lavillenie’s 6.17m in 2020, Duplantis has set new benchmarks across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, drawing global crowds eager to witness history in real time. Tokyo was no exception, with 60,000 fans on their feet as he composed himself after two near misses before finally sailing over the bar.
“It’s never easy, but I always believe I can go higher,” Duplantis said after his win. “That belief keeps me chasing new limits.”
Behind him, Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis claimed silver with a leap of 6.00m, while Australia’s Kurtis Marschall took bronze for the second consecutive championship.
While Duplantis’ feats grab headlines, his dominance has also sparked debates about whether pole vault is witnessing its greatest-ever era — one shaped by an athlete who blends precision, composure, and commercial incentives, with bonuses tied to each new record.
With a third world crown and yet another line added to his record-breaking résumé, Duplantis’ Tokyo triumph has further cemented his legacy as one of athletics’ most consistent and compelling stars.
