Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis once again stretched the limits of what is possible, seizing a new world record at the All Star de Pértiga meet in Clermont-Ferrand, France, on a Saturday that added another chapter to his storied career. He cleared 6.22 meters, topping his own universal benchmark by a full centimeter and pushing the outdoor record to a height never before achieved by a man in official competition.
Duplantis, the reigning Olympic champion in the event, surpassed his previous best of 6.21 meters set on July 24, 2022, when he claimed the outdoor world title in Eugene, United States. His latest triumph underscores a defining arc in a season where every attempt is scrutinized for signs of progress and record-breaking potential.
Throughout indoor competition, the Swede had already demonstrated his prowess, achieving a best of 6.20 meters. Earlier this year, during the Belgrade World Cup meet in March, he came close but fell short of surpassing his own mark in a high-stakes bid for a new record.
Back on February 2 in Uppsala, Sweden, during the Mondo Classic, Duplantis launched a promising first attempt at 6.22 meters but did not convert the limit height after three tries. He faced a similar sequence in Berlin eight days later, where three attempts at the peak height again left him just shy of the world benchmark. In Lievin, France, on February 15, the Swedish jumper did not chase the record, choosing to settle for a more modest win with a first-rate 6.01 meters.
Yet Duplantis kept faith that a final chance would come. He would not participate in the indoor European championships scheduled for Istanbul next week, but he held one more shot at a record-breaking moment at the All Star de Pétiga, an event organized by Renaud Lavillenie, a former world record holder and a longtime ally in French pole vault circles.
With a first vault at 5.71 meters that raised questions about whether the day would deliver the breakthrough, the Swede then opened up the clear path with a 5.91 meters attempt that did not convert initially. The competition quickly revealed itself as a test of nerve, as the level of height required to set a universal standard loomed large over the arena.
The height Duplantis sought is the same that had decided the outcome in the field, granting him victory with a 6.01 meters effort that placed him ahead of Kurtis Marshall of Australia, who went to 5.91, and Dutch vaulter Menno Vloon, who shared the same mark in a tight, three-way podium finish.
Understanding that the winter season was a window to push the world record further, Duplantis entered the finals with clear intent. He asked for the bar to be raised to 6.22 meters, one centimeter above his existing best, turning the event into a direct challenge to the sport’s all-time standard.
His first two attempts were not clean enough to hold the height. On the first, his pole slipped as he began to descend, dislodging the bar, and on the second, the bar dropped before he could make the decisive lift. After those two misses, attention shifted to the Swede’s third shot, a moment that would define the day.
Alongside Lavillenie, who joined the celebration after reaching 6.16 meters in Donetsk, Ukraine, the two shared a public moment of respect on the mat. Duplantis was visibly moved when discussing the achievement with the L’Equipe media network, saying that words failed him in the minutes after the try, that the accomplishment felt almost unreal and that memory would take time to settle.
Record books spoke plainly: there are no limits for the Swedish athlete as he prepares to extend his efforts in the upcoming summer campaign. The new standard at 6.22 meters marked a universal record and signaled a continued, relentless pursuit of higher heights and faster progress on the world stage. The trajectory suggests more bold attempts and the potential to redefine what is possible in pole vaulting, with a season that promises even stronger showings and more dramatic competitions ahead to readers around the world. Source attribution: L’Equipe coverage and post-event interviews.