Duplantis Sets Ninth Pole Vault World Record

Sweden's Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis defended his Olympic pole vault title in Paris, setting a new world record of 6.25 meters, his ninth world record progression. Coached by his father and coming from a track and field-crazy family, Duplantis has been virtually unbeatable, winning every major title since 2019. He surpassed his previous record of 6.24 meters set in April at the Xiamen Diamond League. His performance drew rapturous applause from the 69,000-capacity crowd and was celebrated with his girlfriend and Swedish teammates. Duplantis joins American Bob Richards as the only men to win back-to-back Olympic pole vault titles. His victory underscores his dominance in the sport, akin to legends like Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps in their respective disciplines.