Pole vault sensation Mondo Duplantis, representing Sweden, etched his name further into the athletics history books by breaking the world record for the 14th time. The extraordinary feat occurred at the World Athletics event in Tokyo on September 15, 2025, where he successfully cleared an astonishing 6.30 meters, securing a gold medal in the process.
This latest achievement marks a significant milestone for the American-Swedish athlete. His previous world record, set at 6.29 meters, was established during the World Athletics championship held in Budapest just last August, making this new record his 14th consecutive improvement on the global best.
The atmosphere inside Japan’s National Stadium was electric as the 25-year-old athlete prepared for his attempts. Despite an uncharacteristic start, failing to clear the bar on his first two attempts, the passionate crowd of over 70,000 spectators rallied behind him. Their resounding cheers and encouragement before his third crucial attempt seemed to fuel his resolve, enabling him to successfully soar over the 6.30-meter mark.
Upon achieving the historic vault, the stadium erupted in applause and cheers. Duplantis, visibly ecstatic, ran to embrace his family, who were present to witness his incredible triumph and new world record. This iconic stadium holds special significance for Duplantis, as it was the very venue where he claimed his first Olympic gold medal four years prior, also in Tokyo. However, that victory was achieved under vastly different circumstances, with competitions held behind closed doors due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
The competition itself saw a challenging field, with 7 out of the 12 pole vaulters managing to clear only 5.90 meters during the intense qualifying rounds. The main challenge to Duplantis came from Greek pole vaulter Emmanouil Karalis, a bronze medalist from the Paris Olympics. Karalis cleared 6 meters but struggled at higher marks, failing his attempts at 6.10 meters, 6.15 meters, and 6.20 meters, despite his efforts to pressure the reigning world record holder.
Duplantis, demonstrating his characteristic precision and mental fortitude, successfully cleared both 6.10 meters and 6.15 meters with ease. He then raised the bar to the monumental 6.30 meters, attempting it three times. On his final attempt, he delivered the performance that the fans and the global athletics community had eagerly anticipated, securing the new world record.
The Swedish star’s incredible journey of breaking records began in 2020 with a clearance of 6.17 meters. Since then, he has consistently pushed the boundaries of the sport, setting new benchmarks at 6.18 meters, 6.19 meters, 6.20 meters, 6.21 meters, 6.22 meters, 6.23 meters, 6.24 meters, 6.25 meters, 6.26 meters, 6.27 meters, 6.28 meters, 6.29 meters, and now, an awe-inspiring 6.30 meters.
