In his first competition since his incredible world record and gold medal at the Olympic Games in Paris, Armand Duplantis set a meeting record of 6.15m at the Athletissma meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland on Wednesday (3).
Competing a day earlier than the rest of the Diamond League meeting’s programme on Thursday (22), Mondo lined up with the rest of the world’s premier pole vaulters in the early evening atmosphere in a specially erected runway in a popular thoroughfare in the city’s Place de la Navigation near Lake Geneva.
History maker
With the Olympic Museum a short sprint away, the two-time Olympic gold medallist and three-time European champion delivered another epic performance, giving the large audience a unique and up-close demonstration of record-breaking athleticism.
The Swedish icon opened routinely enough with a first time clearance at 5.62m, then put together three more clearances at the first attempt at 5.82m, 5.92m and 6.00m. The latter was good enough to win the competition, then it was reduced to the familiar contest of Mondo versus gravity.
He twice failed at 6.15m, but in typical showstopper form, he cleared it at the third attempt, adding five centimetres to his own meeting record from two years ago to thrill an appreciative crowd and set an unofficial 'street vault' world best.
"When I set the bar at 6.15 instead of 6.11, it was more of an instinctual choice—it just felt right and sounded cool," said Mondo.
"I felt like I had a little more than 6.10 in me today, even though the conditions were challenging with the wind, and my legs were starting to tire. I aimed to make the most of what I had left, and I think I did well with what was possible. Honestly, I don’t think I could have managed much more on that jump.”
Chris Broadbent for European Athletics
