Duplantis Soars to New Heights: Pole Vault Prodigy Shatters World Record for 14th Time, Claims World Title

TOKYO -- Armand "Mondo" Duplantis broke the pole vault world record for the 14th time Monday night, clearing 6.30 meters to capture his third world championship.

Duplantis, who grew up in Louisiana but competes for his mother's native Sweden, easily won his 49th straight meet and fifth straight major title, including Olympics, then kept the crowd around for another drama-rich half-hour to watch him go for the record.

He cleared his top height (20 feet, 8 inches) on his third and final try -- the bar still bouncing but not falling as he leaped off the mat and jumped into second-place finisher Emmanouil Karalis' arms to start the celebration.

Duplantis gets $70,000 for the victory plus a $100,000 bonus for setting the record at the world championships. The jam-packed stadium that stuck around for his finale gets a great memory.

"To give you guys this moment, it's just amazing," Duplantis said in an in-stadium interview.

The 25-year-old first broke the record on Feb. 8, 2020, clearing 6.17 meters and knocking France's 2012 Olympic champion, Renaud Lavillenie, off the top spot.

Since then, Duplantis has improved upon the record by one centimeter every time, giving him more opportunities to pocket bonuses like the one he gets at this event.

"What Mondo has in spades is what every pole vaulter is trying to achieve," said Sam Kendricks, who finished fourth. "He's got a jump, he's got the jets. He's got a family that really supports him, and then he's got a field of guys that's really pushing him up there."

As great a showman as an athlete, Duplantis shared handshakes and hugs with all those guys after Karalis missed at 6.20 meters to guarantee Duplantis the win.

He headed over to the edge of the track to consult with his coach, walked back near the runway and took a seat, then stood up, chalked up his hands and let the drama begin.

Just as he did a year ago at the Paris Olympics, Duplantis missed his first two tries, leaving himself with one, last all-or-nothing attempt.

After sitting for about five minutes, he got up, took off, reached a speed of more than 35 kilometers per hour (22 mph), then went vaulting over the highest height ever cleared -- enough room to fit a full-sized pickup truck.

"I believe in him," said his dad, Greg. "I believed he was going to make it on the last one. You've got to believe."