Stockholm Diamond League 2023: Armand Duplantis warms hearts on cold night with another world record attempt
World record-breaking pole vaulter Armand Duplantis delighted Swedish hearts on a cold and dreary night at the Stockholm Diamond League meeting on Sunday (2 July).
Athletics
Armand Duplantis was the main attraction at the Stockholm Diamond League meeting on Sunday (2 July), where he put up a show for the thousands of adoring local fans.
The 23-year-old pole vaulter won the competition by clearing 6.05 metres before requesting the bar to be raised to 6.23m for a potential world record-extending attempt.
Although Duplantis failed in his attempt, he won over the hearts of the fans who stayed well after the action on the track and elsewhere on the infield.
Torrential rain greeted avid fans at the Olympic Stadium, ultimately delaying the start of the men’s pole vault competition.
“I found some rhythm on the runway despite the cold. It was not the weather we wanted of course, but I always want to jump well every meet, but especially here as this is the most important meet outside the world champs for me in the year,” Duplantis said.
The competition progressed to the point where it was only Duplantis and Ernest Jon Obiena of the Philippines competing for the top spot. Obiena settled for silver, clearing 5.82m and failing on attempts at 5.95m.
Duplantis then scaled 5.95m, securing the title before raising the bar to 6.05m, which he hoped would be a stepping stone towards the world record.
At this point, Duplantis had the stage all to himself, with thousands of supporters following his every move. The super Swede bowed out with three failures at 6.23m leaving the world record to live another day.
“Mentally, I felt I was there and in with a chance of the world record which is why I wanted to go for it as well as for the people that had stayed so long into the evening to see me,” he said.
“I wanted to get closer to it, but maybe the conditions and tiredness caught up with me in the end there. I used the biggest pole I had in my bag. I was really fired up and felt I could conquer the world. The crowd were amazing to stay like that, and it says so much about their passion for watching athletics. I will always be grateful for that.”
Duplantis produced a world-lead jump of 6.12m at the Golden Spike meet in Ostrava earlier this week, highlighting his dominance in the technical event. The Olympic champion will be looking to defend his world title in Budapest later this year.
Stockholm Diamond League 2023 - Men's pole vault results
- Armand Duplantis (SWE) - 6.05m
- Ernest John Obiena (PHI) - 5.82m
- Pål Haugen Lillefosse (NOR) - 5.72m
- Ben Broeders (BEL) - 5.72m
- Kurtis Marschall (AUS) - 5.62m
- Thiago Braz (BRA) - 5.62m
- Sondre Guttormsen (NOR) - 5.42m
- Renaud Lavillenie (FRA) - NM
Read the recap of the Stockholm Diamond League meeting here.