Sweden’s Armand Duplantis had another dominant performance in pole vaulting on Saturday, setting his eighth world record in the discipline at the season’s first Diamond League meeting in Xiamen, China. The 24-year-old cleared the bar at 6.24 meters, which was eight centimeters higher than anyone else has ever achieved. This impressive performance further highlighted his dominance, with over 40 centimeters higher than his competitors.
Celebrating the record-breaking achievement, Duplantis jumped off the mat and ran over to celebrate with his team and salute the crowd. Setting every vault record on his first attempt, he displayed how effortless it has become for him to push the limits of his sport. With the Paris Olympic Games approaching, Duplantis has expressed that he still has room to improve and reach his peak level.
Speaking to CNN in April, Duplantis stated, “I know what I need to do to get into those 6.30-type marks. I want to be dominant in the sport because I know that’s what I’m capable of, trying to win every competition and get the most out of myself at every meet that I’m at. If I’m able to jump high, jump a world record, then that’s just a cherry on top.”
In other events of the evening, the USA’s Christian Coleman won the men’s 100 meters with a time of 10.13 seconds, followed by his compatriot Fred Kerley in second place and Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake in third. The women’s 200 meters saw 19-year-old Torrie Lewis take her first Diamond League victory, surprising the favorites and making her mark on the world stage. The USA’s Sha’Carri Richardson finished second after Lewis’ late charge.