On Saturday in Xiamen, 24-year-old Swedish athlete Mondo Duplantis set a new world pole vault record with a remarkable performance. At the first attempt, he cleared the bar with ease and expressed his excitement about competing in China for the first time.
With more than three months to go before he defends his Olympic title in Paris, Duplantis has already achieved an impressive start to the outdoor season. This marks the second time he has opened his season with a six-meter jump, having previously achieved a successful 6.02m jump in Doha in 2022.
Duplantis’ latest record-breaking performance is the eighth of his career so far. His first world record of 6.17m was set in Torun in 2020, and this new record of 6.24m is subject to the usual ratification procedure before it can be officially recognized. Despite this minor hurdle, there is no doubt that Duplantis will continue to push himself and break even more records as he prepares for Paris 2024.