Duplantis sets a new world record and takes his first WC gold: – A night of dreams

EUGENE (VG) Swedish prodigy Armand “Mondo” Duplantis (22) improved his own world record and captured his first World Cup gold.

– It was a night of dreams, Duplantis told SVT.

– Got my first outdoor WC gold and breaking a world record is amazing. Hard to explain.

Duplantis has been a giant in pole vaulting for years, but he will have to wait until WC 2022 to become world champion.

In the WC final on Monday night Norwegian time, he secured gold when he was the only one to go over 6.00 metres.

– Amazing, father and trainer Greg Duplantis told NRK.

– That’s the only medal he doesn’t have. I am very happy, very proud.

Duplantis became Olympic champion in Tokyo last summer, and took European Championship gold throughout 2018. At the World Championships in Doha in 2019, she had to settle for silver, before she captured indoor World Cup gold in Serbia in March.

At Eugene, he was finally able to celebrate his first outdoor WC gold.

Once the gold was secured, Duplantis was able to set a new world record, and in his second try at 6.21 meters it was secured – by a margin of 8.3 centimeters to the list.

– I didn’t really think about the world record today. For me, the most important thing is to win. It’s been a great night. I have control over everything, says Armand Duplantis.

In total, the 22-year-old was able to cash in NOK 1.7 million for the World Cup final: a million bonus for a world record, and NOK 700,000 for World Cup gold.

According to VG information, the Swede earns around NOK 35 million per season from sponsorships, starts and prize money.

The old world record for the 22-year-old was 6.20 meters, which he set during an indoor WC in Serbia in March.

– It is incredible what we are witnessing from this phenomenon, says NRK expert commentator Christiana Vukicevic Demidov.

– This is another sport that he does, he continued.

– Unique, says colleague Vebjørn Rodal.

When Duplantis passed for 6.00 meters, it was his 47th career. It was a new record after he shared it with legendary Ukrainian Serhij Bubka in 46 before the final on Eugene.

Of the two Norwegian athletes in the final, Pål Haugen Lillefosse was the best with ninth place. He covered 5.80 meters as the best.

He attempted 5.87 meters, one centimeter over his own record in Norway, but there Lillefosse broke all three attempts.

Sondre Guttormsen came tenth in the final with his best result of 5.70 meters. At 5.80, he broke all three of his attempts.

– On the first attempt, I didn’t quite get over the post and was torn on the way down. I don’t really remember the second attempt. The third attempt was a very good jump – too good a jump. That’s what’s on the staves. When you suddenly improve things technically and get things done, the rock becomes too soft, Guttormsen told VG.

American Christopher Nilsen won silver, while Filipino Ernest John Obiena won bronze.

Britney Kirk

"Infuriatingly humble coffee guru. Travel practitioner. Freelance zombie fanatic. Certified problem solver. Food scholar. Student."

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