At the Diamond League season opener in Xiamen, China, Swedish phenom Mondo Duplantis once again shattered the world record for men’s pole vaulting, this time reaching an incredible height of 6.24 meters (20 feet, 5 inches).
It was an incredible exhibition of athletic power. Duplantis, who is only 24 years old, is already writing history by accomplishing this incredible performance in a string of outdoor meets. In addition to captivating fans all around the world, his unwavering pursuit of excellence solidifies his standing as a true icon in the track and field community.
He broke his record of 6.22 meters set on February 25, 2023, by clearing 6.23 meters on his 16th try at the September Diamond League Final in Eugene, Oregon. It was an incredible performance.
He made six failed attempts at 6.24 meters during the winter indoor season, but his persistence paid off as he reached the height with ease on his first outdoor attempt of 2024 in Xiamen, showcasing his extraordinary talent and persistent willpower.
Pole Vaulting First: Duplantis’s Ground-Breaking Approach
Mondo Duplantis has distinguished himself by methodically raising the bar in the vein of Sergey Bubka, both literally and figuratively. He has gradually raised his height on every try at a world record since February 2020 by just one centimeter, and he receives bonuses every time he beats his record.
This strategy was established by Bubka, who set 17 outdoor and 18 indoor world records between 1984 and 1994. Duplantis is now pursuing athletic greatness with this strategy.
In an exciting sprint, Christian Coleman won the 100 meters in 10.13 seconds with a headwind of.6 meters per second, just missing Fred Kerley by four-hundredths of a second. All eyes will be on the June Olympic Trials because the United States has produced the last three global 100-meter champions (Coleman in 2019, Kerley in 2022, and Noah Lyles in 2023), as well as two more world 100-meter medalists (Trayvon Bromell and Marvin Bracy-Williams).
In the individual 100-meter event, the top three finishers will secure their spots on the team headed for Paris, ensuring an exciting exhibition of talent and speed.
Cover Photo: IG