When it comes to sports, there aren’t a lot of undisputed bests. The same is true for track and field as well. After all, minus The Lightning Bolt, there haven’t been many who have dominated their discipline enough to be called the best. Except for one man, perhaps. Mondo Duplantis. The Swedish-American pole-vaulter has been shattering the records one after another since he got the gold at the Paris 2024. But just when everyone thought he was done, he is back. And this time with even more flair. So what were his hunting grounds this time?
Well, at the Bislett Games in Oslo, Duplantis delivered another masterclass, while his American rival Sam Kendricks stumbled in a performance that was far from his best. The 11-time world record holder made his return to the Diamond League with style, vaulting 6.15 meters. Far ahead of the competition. It was yet another Duplantis triumph of the season, adding to his already unstoppable 2024 campaign.
But while the Swede was flying high, Kendricks faltered hard, finishing a disappointing fifth with a 5.62m clearance. Nearly half a meter off his career-best of 6.06m. This was no ordinary win. Duplantis came into the meet as the heavy favorite, with just four defeats in 39 events since 2020. And Kendricks, once considered his biggest challenger, offered little resistance. He looked out of rhythm from the start, failing to assert any kind of pressure.
For Duplantis, it was a clean execution. For Kendricks, it was a reminder that catching the Swede is getting harder with every meet. Earlier this year, Duplantis bettered his world record to an eye-watering 6.27m, continuing a streak that’s left the rest of the field scrambling. He now owns the top 11 vaults in history. Each centimeter he adds only stretches the gap further.
His form in 2024 with Olympic gold and three world records had been phenomenal. And now, in 2025, another dominant Diamond League win has solidified his status as the undisputed king of the pole vault. The Oslo crowd witnessed the very best. Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis, the 2024 Olympic bronze medalist, cleared 5.82m for second place. Australia’s Kurtis Marschall secured third with 5.72m.
But the spotlight remained locked on Duplantis, who once again delivered under pressure. And on demand. With Kendrick’s sliding further behind, the throne has never looked more secure. And this is not all. As per the King’s own words, Duplantis has more heights left in him!
Did Duplantis tease a new world record as the Oslo showdown loomed?
With the Bislett Stadion crowd buzzing in anticipation, Armand Mondo Duplantis stands on the cusp of yet another historic moment. The Swedish pole vault phenomenon, already an 11-time world record breaker, has signaled he’s ready to push the boundaries again, possibly clearing an unprecedented 6.28m. Hours before the sixth leg of the 2025 Diamond League in Oslo, Duplantis made it clear.
He stated, “It’s about that time, I would say, hopefully I can do something good now.” There’s a certain calm intensity in the way Duplantis approaches greatness, a confidence earned through relentless precision and performances that border on the surreal. Since his 6.27m clearance in Clermont-Ferrand earlier this year, fans have wondered not if but when the next record would fall. Oslo couldn’t be it.
However, Stockholm is just days away. Either way, the 25-year-old is dialed in. “I’d like to have a good performance here, and also in Stockholm,” he said, noting the emotional weight of competing at home. Mondo added, “Try to get over the bar, maybe over 6:10 or so, and try to attempt at least a little more.” What makes Oslo so special this time around is the championship-like atmosphere.
Facing stiff competition from Paris 2024 medalists Sam Kendricks and Emmanouil Karalis, Duplantis isn’t just vaulting against others. Rather, he’s chasing his own shadow. However, Kendrick’s performance made it even easier for him to secure the win. Before the meet, Duplantis shared, “It’s super fun competing against these guys… It’s like a little mini championship final.” If form holds and the skies stay clear, the world may well witness Duplantis take flight once more, soon, higher than ever before.
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