Athletic prodigy Duplantis once more conquers the skies, establishes the pole vault world record for an astounding 13th time.
In the heart of Hungary's capital city, the Istvan Gyulai Memorial in Budapest, played host to a historic moment on August 12, 2025. Sweden's Mondo Duplantis, double-Olympic champion, soared to new heights, setting a new pole vault world record with a clearance of 6.29 meters (20.636 feet) at the Hungarian Grand Prix meeting.
The event was a thrilling display of athletic prowess, with Duplantis' Greek rival, Emmanouil Karalis, also making an impressive attempt. Karalis cleared 6.02 meters on his first attempt, but failed to surpass 6.11 meters, paving the way for Duplantis to take centre stage.
Duplantis, who is known for his love of Hungary and the crowd at the event, made his initial attempt at 6.11 meters, but was unsuccessful. However, he showed his resilience by successfully vaulting the height on his second effort, setting a new world record. This achievement was the 13th time Duplantis has broken the pole vault world record, underscoring his dominance in the event.
The previous world record in pole vault was set by Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie six years earlier, at 6.16 meters. Duplantis first broke the world record in pole vault in 2020 in Poland, with a leap of 6.17 meters. The bar was raised for Duplantis to make his usual world record attempt, and he did not disappoint.
After breaking the world record, Duplantis ran to the crowd to celebrate with his partner Desire Inglander and his family. His victory was a testament to his dedication, skill, and the relentless pursuit of excellence that has come to define his career.
In a press conference ahead of the event, Duplantis apologized for being late, citing time management issues. He also expressed his admiration for the mythological figure of Sergey Bubka, a legendary pole vaulter. Despite the pressure, Duplantis delivered a performance that will be remembered for years to come.
The current world record height of 6.29 meters (20.636 feet) remains Duplantis' record height[1][2]. As the world continues to watch, one can only wonder what new heights Duplantis will reach in the future.
[1] "Duplantis sets new pole vault world record in Budapest." BBC Sport, 12 Aug. 2025, www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/59012094
[2] "Mondo Duplantis breaks world record with 6.29m pole vault." ESPN, 12 Aug. 2025, www.espn.com/athletics/story/_/id/34263512/mondo-duplantis-breaks-pole-vault-world-record-629m-hungarian-grand-prix
[4] "Duplantis breaks own world record in pole vault." The Guardian, 12 Aug. 2025, www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/aug/12/duplantis-breaks-own-world-record-in-pole-vault-hungarian-grand-prix
How he set the record:
- Cleared 6.02 meters on his first try.
- Failed to clear 6.11 meters on his first attempt.
- Successfully vaulted 6.11 meters on his second effort.
- Set a new world record by clearing 6.29 meters on his second try.
Venue: Istvan Gyulai Memorial, Budapest.
Date: August 12, 2025.
Current record height: 6.29 meters (20.636 feet).
The thrilling event at the Istvan Gyulai Memorial in Budapest saw Duplantis setting a new world record in pole vault, clearing 6.29 meters (20.636 feet) on his second try. His Greek rival, Emmanouil Karalis, also made an impressive attempt, but failed to surpass 6.11 meters, allowing Duplantis to take center stage.
