Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis broke the pole vault world record for the 15th time on Thursday, clearing 6.31 metres on his first attempt at the Mondo Classic in Uppsala, Sweden. The 26-year-old athlete’s historic achievement on March 12, 2026, represents yet another milestone in his unprecedented dominance of the discipline.
Armand Duplantis World Record Progression
The 26-year-old Swede broke the record he has owned since clearing 6.17 meters in 2020. What makes Duplantis’s achievement even more remarkable is that between 2020 and 2025, Duplantis broke the world record 14 times, increasing the mark by just one centimeter on each occasion. This consistent, methodical approach to record-breaking distinguishes him from previous legendary pole vaulters.
| Record Number | Height | Year | Location | Previous Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 6.17m | 2020 | Torun, Poland | Renaud Lavillenie (6.16m) |
| 2nd-14th | 6.18m-6.30m | 2020-2025 | Various venues | Progressive 1cm increases |
| 15th | 6.31m | 2026 | Uppsala, Sweden | 6.30m (Tokyo 2025) |
| Jump Increase | +0.01m each | Consistent | Record-only jumps | Previous best |
Mondo Classic Performance Details
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Mondo Classic (indoor meet named after Duplantis) |
| Location | IFU Arena, Uppsala, Sweden |
| Date | March 12, 2026 (Thursday) |
| Attempt Count | First attempt (immediate success) |
| Progression Clearances | 5.65m, 5.90m, 6.08m (all first attempts) |
| Bar Increase | 23 centimeters from 6.08m to 6.31m |
| Consecutive Wins | 38 straight victories (since August 2023) |
| Home Crowd | Swedish fans in adopted hometown |
| Crowd Response | Standing ovation at world-record height |
Career Achievements and Dominance
Duplantis is a two-time Olympic (2020 and 2024) champion, a three-time World outdoor (2022, 2023 and 2025) champion and a three-time World indoor (2022, 2024 and 2025) champion. His competitive record stands unmatched in modern athletics, with 38 straight pole-vault victories — a stretch dating to August 2023.
Beyond his record-breaking prowess, Duplantis has cleared six metres or higher in competition more times than any athlete in history, accounting for 35 of the 48 competitions where an athlete has cleared at least that height: 24 times at outdoor venues and 11 times at indoor venues.
Technical Approach and Innovation
Duplantis added that he lengthened his run-up to better control a stiffer pole. “I tried to do something new and push myself to the limit. It’s a really great feeling,” he noted. This technical adjustment demonstrates his willingness to innovate even at elite levels of competition.
Duplantis, widely known by his nickname ‘Mondo’, has already won every major gold available to him, and became the first man in 68 years to retain the Olympic pole vault title at Paris 2024. His rivals have attributed his dominance largely to lightning runway speed, technical precision in the take-off, explosive power and the bravery to embrace it as he travels far beyond the average height of a giraffe (5.5m).
Upcoming Challenges
Duplantis will have a chance to further raise the standard in his specialty at the World Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland, later in March, when he will meet his Greek rival again. His competitor Emmanouil Karalis achieved 6.17 metres at the Greek Indoor Championships but failed three attempts at 6.00 metres at the Mondo Classic.
Read More: IPL 2026: KKR Sign Blessing Muzarabani to Replace Mustafizur Rahman
