By Kwame Bediako
Swedish pole vaulter Armand “Mondo” Duplantis shattered his own world record for the 14th time, soaring to a height of 6.30 metres to claim gold at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan. This latest achievement solidifies his dominance in the sport as he continues to push the limits of human performance.
Duplantis first won Olympic gold during the pandemic-affected Tokyo 2021 Games, where he cleared 6.02 metres to secure his top podium position. Since then, he has been unstoppable, remaining unbeaten in competition for two years and winning 16 consecutive events in 2025 alone, underscoring his status as the premier pole vaulter of his generation.
Reflecting on his world record clearance, Duplantis expressed immense satisfaction. “It’s better than I could have imagined. To give you guys this world record is amazing. For the past two weeks, I really enjoyed being in Tokyo,” he said. His connection to the city where he previously won Olympic gold added emotional weight to his new record-breaking performance.
Duplantis revealed his mindset going into the event, motivated to leave a lasting mark in Japan. “I feel the only way to leave Japan was to set the world record. That was my mentality. I was feeling really good the whole day. I knew I had the record in me. I am glad it all worked out,” he told World Athletics.
With this 6.30m clearance, Duplantis has once again redefined excellence in pole vaulting. His remarkable consistency and ability to perform at the highest level continue to inspire fans and athletes worldwide as he aims to extend his unbeaten streak further.
