Pole vault sensation Mondo Duplantis has made a career out of rewriting history, but his latest feat at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo stands apart from the rest. The Swedish star soared to 6.30 metres on his third attempt, breaking the world record for the 14th time in his career. Yet, this record felt different—“way more special,” in his own words.
Duplantis had already secured his world title with a first-time clearance of 6.15m, but the electric atmosphere inside the Japan National Stadium, filled with over 53,000 fans, set the stage for something extraordinary. Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis took silver with a vault of six metres, while Australia’s Kurtis Marschall clinched bronze at 5.95m. Still, the night’s true drama was between Duplantis and the bar that once again defined the limits of human potential.
Why this record was different
Speaking after the competition, Mondo Duplantis did not hide the weight of the moment.
“For sure, it’s way more special,” he said when asked to compare setting records at the World Championships with other meets. “It’s night and day. I don’t think it’s really even comparable.”
The 25-year-old explained that breaking the world record on athletics’ biggest stage carries unmatched significance.
“Of course it’s going to make the biggest splash, because this is our most important competition of the year, and that’s where the most eyeballs are going to be watching me too,” Duplantis added.
While many of his previous records gained traction on social media, Tokyo provided a live, global audience. “A lot of people probably saw it on Instagram or whatever when I broke other world records, but there’s a lot more people watching this one live, and in that way it’s a lot more impressive.”
For Mondo Duplantis, even the number carried symbolic weight: “But the 6.30, it sounds really nice. It just sounds super clean, and a new barrier for our sport.”
The pressure and the payoff
The record-breaking jump also earned him a US $100,000 bonus, a reward that added gloss to what was already an unforgettable night. Remarkably, the Tokyo final went down as one of the deepest competitions in pole vault history, with seven men clearing 5.90m or higher for the first time ever.
Yet for Duplantis, the hardest part was already over. “I think the pressure is probably even a little bit let off, in some ways, because I’ve already won the competition,” he revealed. “After that, it’s more just like a cherry on top. Dessert after (dinner), basically. So I just try to put my best jumps together, and I feel like everything after that is a bit of a blur, in a way. It’s like a bonus round you get to play around with. I do enjoy that moment very much. It’s like, ‘it’s world record time.’”
Despite basking in the glow of his 14th world record, Mondo Duplantis admitted that his relentless drive often pushes him to focus on the future rather than savoring the present.
“I’ll give it at least a really good night,” he said, hinting at only a brief pause before moving on to “the next thing, always.”
With eight major senior international titles already under his belt, including his first at the very same Tokyo venue in 2021, Duplantis continues to redefine pole vaulting. His latest triumph was not just another record—it was a reminder of why he stands alone as the face of his sport.