World record-holder Armand Gustav “Mondo” Duplantis secured his fourth European crown on Sunday with a championship-record clearance at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.
The Swedish-American pole vaulter cleared 6.15 metres on his first attempt at that height. The jump improved the previous European Championships record by five centimetres.
Duplantis also completed a fourth consecutive European title. His latest victory adds another major achievement to an already remarkable career.
Conditions rule out world record bid
Duplantis decided not to raise the bar further after clearing 6.15 metres. Cool and blustery conditions made a world-record attempt less appealing.
His current world record stands at 6.31 metres. He set that mark in Uppsala in March 2026.
The final also produced a close contest with Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis. Both athletes cleared six metres on their second attempts.
Duplantis then matched the championship record at 6.10 metres before raising the bar to 6.15 metres.
Karalis passed at 6.15 metres and moved the bar to 6.20 metres. However, he could not clear the height on his final attempt.
France’s Baptiste Thierry won bronze with a best clearance of 5.85 metres.
Who is Mondo Duplantis?
Duplantis is a Swedish-American pole vaulter widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes in the history of the event.
His father competed in pole vaulting for the United States, while his mother was a Swedish heptathlete. Duplantis represents Sweden and holds dual citizenship.
He started pole vaulting at just four years old and began competing seriously at seven.
Duplantis later spent one season at Louisiana State University. During that time, he set NCAA indoor and outdoor records before turning professional.
His famous nickname, “Mondo”, came from his father’s Sicilian best friend. The name means “world” in Italian.
Remarkable achievements
At 26, Duplantis already holds every major title in pole vaulting.
His honours include two Olympic titles, three World outdoor titles, four World indoor titles and four European titles.
He has broken the pole-vault world record more than 15 times. His latest mark of 6.31 metres remains the highest clearance in history.
Duplantis has also cleared six metres or higher more than 50 times in competition. No other pole vaulter has reached that milestone as often.
The Duplantis fourth European crown adds another chapter to his extraordinary record of success.
Challenging road to Birmingham
The latest victory becomes even more impressive considering the difficulties Duplantis faced before the championships.
He married earlier this summer. Last month, he also suffered a thigh injury scare during the London Diamond League.
The injury raised doubts about whether he would be fit for the European Championships.
“I am trying not to take it for granted. Four of these in a row is a really amazing feat, so I am trying to soak it all in and enjoy it,” Duplantis was quoted by Athletics Weekly as saying.
“The lead-up has been very difficult and stressful, but luckily, I was able to make it work.
“I am so thankful for all the help I received. I was here in one piece and felt good in the body, too.
“Being here healthy and winning gold is great.”
His successful return means Duplantis leaves Birmingham with another European title and a new championship record.
Duplantis praises rival
Duplantis also praised Karalis after their close battle in Birmingham.
He credited the Greek vaulter with pushing him to perform at his best.
“I think people want to see me get pushed and to see a good competition. I think Emmanouil brings that out of me, and he brings the best out of the sport.
“It is a good thing for everybody. I am really proud of the way he jumped today and stepped up.”
The Duplantis fourth European crown underlines his continued dominance in the event. His 6.15-metre clearance also shows that he remains capable of producing record-breaking performances despite difficult conditions.
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