Sweden's pole vault sensation Mondo Duplantis redefined athletic excellence on Tuesday, clearing 6.29 meters at the Gyulai Istvan Memorial in Budapest to break his own world record for the 13th time. The achievement cements his status as the most dominant athlete in the history of the discipline.
The 25-year-old double Olympic champion, competing at the same stadium where he won his second world title in 2023, overcame initial struggles at lower heights before conquering his signature one-centimeter improvement strategy. His second attempt at the record height saw the bar tremble but hold firm, leaving even Duplantis momentarily stunned by his latest feat.
This breakthrough follows his June 2023 record of 6.28 meters in Stockholm and extends his unprecedented streak of world-best marks that began in 2020. The Louisiana-born vaulter celebrated by rushing to embrace his partner Desire Inglander and family, maintaining a tradition of heartfelt reactions to his record-breaking performances.
Duplantis now looks ahead to Saturday's Silesia Diamond League meet, where he'll aim to continue his dominance at a venue that witnessed another of his world records last year. His consistent innovation in the sport continues to captivate athletics enthusiasts and redefine human potential in track and field.
