Mondo Duplantis breaks the world record for pole vaulting
The individual that had drawn everyone's attention was the only one still standing on the track. Since he had recalled to haul his poles into Stade de France, Armand "Mondo" Duplantis had owned the victory in every practical sense. Compared to previous pole vaulters in the sport, he functions on a distinct level. He prepares for the times when he will be the last competitor left standing, with all eyes on him.
Up until Monday night, Duplantis had broken the world record eight times. Whether Duplantis could lower the obstacle between man and flight by one additional centimeter would be determined by one final jump.
Duplantis's two attempts to surpass his world record ended in failure. He discussed a critical change with his father and coach, Greg, prior to his third. He bolted down the runway, shot into the night, and went down in Olympic annals as one of the greatest athletes of all time.
Pole-vaulting phenom Duplantis, who competes for his mother's home Sweden and was born in Louisiana, matriculated at LSU and cleared 6.25 meters (20 feet 6 inches) on his final try. The lights inside the Stade de France stadium flickered. A crazy wall of sound was formed by the best audience he had ever seen outside of Tiger Stadium. After running off the mat to the stadium's corner, he gave his brothers a high five and gave his girlfriend an embrace.
"I'm pretty okay with that if I don't beat this moment in my career," Duplantis declared. "I don't think you can improve on what just transpired very much."
More than any other competitor at these Games, Duplantis challenges boundaries. He would be happy with a new barrier for one night. Later, Duplantis socialized with Sweden's King Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus on the track. Duplantis said in Swedish, "Fam vad cool"—very cool. His brothers would bring him to karaoke, voice muffled from interviews and all, as part of his planned family celebration.
Duplantis stated, "I'll probably have some liquid courage and go up onstage."
Even prior to Monday, he had demonstrated that he was the best performer. In February 2020, Duplantis beat the world record for the first time, moving it up one centimeter to 6.17 meters. Since then, he has turned it into a lucrative toy. Since then, Duplantis has broken the record seven more times, each time by a centimeter, maximizing the amount of times he may earn sponsorship incentives for setting world records.
At the beginning of the evening, Duplantis's record stood at 6.24 meters (20 feet 5¾ inches). Sam Kendricks, an American, had not cleared a six-meter bar in five years, and just three other men in the field had done so either.
The silver medal was at the center of the evening's competitive segment. After an infuriating journey that lasted three years, Kendricks won it with a 5.95-meter clearance. He was unable to compete in the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for the coronavirus. The bronze medallist from Rio de Janeiro, Kendricks, was incensed when a test that he thought cleared him was not used in the follow-up. He was furious that he had been isolated and, in his opinion, written off.
"I wish to be free of resentment," Kendricks declared. "I want to adore everyone who is a part of it. I am aware that many of the people who loved me in the past were caught in difficult situations. They were unable to remain at my side. And the fact that I have to be angry with someone bothers me.
Igy would exceed him in finding his way. In Mondo's life, I'm a pretty minor boogeyman, Kendricks remarked.
Duplantis was gradually approached by the night at Stade de France. The chaos that occurred during the women's 5,000 meters. American Valarie Allman won the gold medal in the discus for the second time in a row. The defeated rivals of Duplantis celebrated winning silver and bronze. There was only him.
Initially, he broke the Olympic record of 6.03 meters by setting the bar at 6.10 meters. Then he requested that the bar be raised to a height of 6.25 meters, which had never been done before.
He hit his right elbow on top of the bar on his first try. He reached the necessary height on his second attempt, but his chest struck the bar just as he started to descend to Earth. He went to the front row of the stands and had a conversation with his dad.
The standards, or the uprights holding the bar in place, may be moved by pole vaulters in relation to their takeoff point. Duplantis had attempted to break the record twice, using standards that were placed 70 centimeters from the plant box.
Duplantis was overcome by instinct as he approached the official. The standards only change every five years at many tournaments. Olympic-caliber gear allowed officials to be as exact as they pleased. Duplantis requested 62 instead of the 60 that Greg had recommended.
"If 62 was the ideal number, it would be dope and a nice jab at my father," Duplantis remarked.
Duplantis remarked, "I felt like I had been in this moment 1,000 times already."
Duplantis took off running. His remarkable skill starts with his quickness. A lot of people who realize they will never be able to run as fast as a sprinter take up pole vaulting. Duplantis may possess it.
According to Kendricks, "He runs with God's hand on his back."
Duplantis flipped, raised himself to a height of two storeys, contorted his body, and folded himself into the shape of a trapdoor. The bar did not move. With a shout, he floated to the mat and landed. After giving his family a hug, he turned to face Greg in the coaches box.
Duplantis had crossed yet another boundary. With each new milestone, one wonders how high he may soar. His purpose in life is to increase the possibility. Duplantis would accept what he had done for a night rather than considering what he could do going forward.
