Sweden’s very own Armand Duplantis made us proud again by shattering his world record to defend his pole vault title at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The 24-year-old superstar proved once again why he is considered the best pole vaulter in the world, clearing an astonishing 6.25 meters on Monday night.
The Stade de France was excited as Duplantis, known affectionately as “Mondo,” took centre stage. In front of a roaring crowd of 69,000 spectators, he soared over the bar set at 6.25 meters, surpassing his previous world record of 6.24 meters, set earlier this year in April. This incredible feat marks the ninth time the Swedish-American athlete has broken the world record, cementing his place in the history books.
While the world watched in awe, we Swedes felt immense pride as Duplantis wrapped himself in the blue and yellow flag after securing his second consecutive Olympic gold. His performance brought glory to Sweden and made him the first man since American Bob Richards in the 1950s to win back-to-back Olympic titles in the pole vault.
Reflecting on his achievement, Duplantis said, “I can’t believe I just broke the world record at the Olympics. This has always been my dream, and to do it in front of such an amazing crowd is beyond words.”
As the Swedish national anthem played and the flag was hoisted high, Duplantis took a moment to embrace his family, who have supported him throughout his journey. It was a heartwarming scene as he made his victory lap around the stadium, with Abba’s “Dancing Queen” playing in the background—a fitting tribute to this proud moment for Sweden.
The competition was intense, with Duplantis starting his jumps at 5.70 meters, a height that already seemed out of reach for most competitors. But for Mondo, it was just the beginning. He quickly cleared 5.70, 5.85, 5.95, and 6.0 meters, securing the gold before even attempting his record-breaking jump.
In the end, it was a historic night for Duplantis and Sweden. With his world record jump of 6.25 meters, Mondo has again shown that he is in a league of his own. For those of us watching from home in Sweden, it was a moment of immense pride and joy.
Duplantis has been breaking records since childhood, and it seems there’s no stopping him. Born to a Swedish mother and American father, Mondo has always embraced his Swedish heritage, and tonight, he made sure the world knows where his heart truly lies.
As we celebrate this incredible achievement, we can’t help but wonder: how much higher can he go? Whatever the future holds, one thing is sure—Armand Duplantis will continue to make Sweden proud for years.
Sveriges stolthet, Armand Duplantis, has once again proven that he is the king of the skies when it comes to pole vaulting. Grattis, Mondo! Sweden stands with you, now and always.
