Mondo Duplantis broke the pole vault world record at the Wanda Diamond League opener in Xiamen, starting the season strongly.
Swedish pole vault sensation Mondo Duplantis has once again rewritten the record books by setting a new world pole vault record of 6.24 meters at the 2024 Wanda Diamond League opener in Xiamen, China on Saturday 20 April.
At just 24 years old, Duplantis continues to dominate the field, surpassing his previous world record by 1cm in a breathtaking display of skill and precision.
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The Olympic and world champion cleared the record-setting height on his first attempt, showcasing remarkable consistency in his performance.
"This is my first time in China and it’s exciting to get my season going with such a significant achievement," said Duplantis after his record-breaking jump.
His previous world record of 6.23 meters was set at the 2023 Wanda Diamond League final in Eugene, Oregon, which had taken him 16 attempts.
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Duplantis's journey to the new world record was not without its challenges.
During the winter indoor season, he faced six unsuccessful attempts at 6.24 meters before finally clearing it in his first outdoor attempt of the year.
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The two-time world outdoor champion’s performance in Xiamen is his eighth world record in a career that is already studded with milestones.
His journey began in Torun in 2020 when he set his first world record of 6.17 meters.
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Like his predecessor, Ukrainian Sergey Bubka in the 1980s and 1990s, Duplantis has consistently raised the bar by the minimum one centimeter, a strategic approach that has proven both successful and lucrative due to the bonus money he earns with each record.
Meanwhile, the Diamond League meet in Xiamen was also notable for other extraordinary performances.
Ethiopian Gudaf Tsegay, reigning world champion in the 10,000m and world record holder in the 5000m, clinched the 1500m with a time of 3:50.30, making it the third-fastest in history.
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Only Kenyan Faith Kipyegon and Ethiopian Genzebe Dibaba have posted faster times.
In the women's 3000m steeplechase, Beatrice Chepkoech of Kenya dominated the event, recording the sixth fastest time ever with 8:55.40. These performances set a high standard for the season and spotlight the exceptional talent present in this year's league.
Diamond League moves to Suzhou, China next Saturday as Duplantis looks ahead to more than three months of competition before he defends his Olympic title in Paris.
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