World-renowned pole vaulter Armand Duplantis has arrived in Xiamen, Fujian Province, on the Chinese mainland, gearing up to defend his title at the World Athletics Diamond League’s opening event this Saturday. The Swedish athlete, who holds the men’s pole vault world record, will compete at the Egret Stadium amid high expectations following his historic performance last year.
Duplantis, 25, has shattered the world record 11 times since 2019 and recently claimed gold at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. He became the first vaulter to clear six meters over 100 times in his career, cementing his reputation as a trailblazer in the sport.
In an interview with China Media Group (CMG), Duplantis expressed enthusiasm for returning to Xiamen, where he set a world record in 2023. "I know it’s a beautiful stadium with great fans—a place where I can jump high. I hope to replicate last year’s success," he said. Local organizers anticipate a sold-out crowd, with athletics enthusiasts eager to witness another potential record-breaking leap.
