Mondo Duplantis smashes world record at Paris 2024 to take back-to-back Olympic Games pole vault golds

Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis underlined his tag as one of the all-time greats by setting a world record to make it back-to-back Olympic gold medals in the men's pole vault final. The 24-year-old cleared a remarkable 6.25m on his third attempt at the Stade de France to break his own record set in April.

Watch unbelievable moment Duplantis breaks world record to celebrate gold

Video credit: TNT Sports

Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis made history by breaking his own world record to defend his men’s pole vault Olympic gold on a night for the ages at the Stade de France.

On his third attempt, the 24-year-old cleared a remarkable 6.25m to break his own record set in April at the Diamond League in China.

Duplantis sealed victory after Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis and American Sam Kendricks failed to clear 6.00m - but he had bigger targets in his sights.

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First, he smashed the Olympic record of 6.03m by jumping 6.10m and settled back into his seat as he prepared to beat the record of 6.25m.

Failing with his first attempt after his trailing arm brought down the bar, Duplantis was then ordered to collect his gold medal in a victory’s ceremony including men’s 100m winner Noah Lyles.

'One very special man' - Reaction to Duplantis breaking world record and winning gold

Video credit: TNT Sports

It did not happen in his second effort, either, as his right knee clipped the bar. But - like champions do - Duplantis simply dusted himself down and achieved what few thought possible, writing his name into the history book once again, beating his previous record by 1cm.

Duplantis, who now has nine world records, savoured the moment in front of an electric crowd as he celebrated glory with his family.

“What a night. Really there are no words that can explain it. I have no idea what’s going on, I feel like nothing’s even real," Duplantis told Eurosport.

"I can’t even feel my feet, I can’t even feel my body. I’m just on cloud nine.

“So much goes into this and then you just do it.”