The greatest kept getting greater as Mondo Duplantis claimed his third World Athletics Championships crown in four years with another record breaking performance in Tokyo.
For Armand “Mondo” Duplantis, the question has never been if he would rewrite the pole vault record books, but when.
Inside the same stadium where he first tasted Olympic glory four years ago in Tokyo, the world No. 1 leaper once again soared into history.
Duplantis cleared 6.30 meters to win the 2025 World Athletics Championships — his third world title in the past four years. Remarkably, it's the 14th time he has broken the pole vault world record.
World no. 2 Emmanouil Karalis of Greece clinched silver with a 6.00-meter jump — the only other vaulter to clear that height besides Duplantis.
Australia’s Kurtis Marschall matched his personal best of 5.95 to secure bronze, his second medal on the world stage.
But once again, Duplantis showed why he is a cut above the rest inside a venue far different from the last time he competed there.
Four years ago, he won the first of his two Olympic golds at 6.02, but that triumph came in front of empty stands, muted by COVID-19 restrictions.
This time, tens of thousands rose to their feet, roaring as he redefined what is possible.
Duplantis’ 2025 season has been relentless.
He has raised the benchmark four times: 6.27 indoors in France in February, 6.28 at the Diamond League in his hometown of Stockholm, 6.29 in Budapest, and now his Tokyo heroics at 6.30.
[ALSO READ: World no. 1 Armand Duplantis clears 6.29m, resets his pole vault world record in Hungary]
Earlier, Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena fell short of advancing to the medal round after finishing tied for 18th with a clearance of 5.55 meters in the competition's qualifying stage.
Up next for Obiena is his tournament homecoming at the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge scheduled on Sept. 20-21 at the Ayala Triangle in Makati.
—
Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.