Duplantis Claims Victory in Diamond League, However, Falls Short of the 6-Meter Mark in His Return Competition
Spotlight at the Xiamen meeting: Armand Duplantis' close call in the Diamond League
Armand Duplantis, the double Olympic champion and world record holder in pole vault, won as expected on Saturday, April 26. However, it was a close call for the Swede at the first of fourteen stages in the Diamond League. The meeting in Xiamen was a far cry from the usual domination we've come to expect from Duplantis. He was the only pole vaulter to clear 5.92m, but he failed three times at 6.01m.
We had already seen him falter earlier in March in Nanjing (China), where Duplantis, despite winning his third consecutive world indoor title, was surprisingly challenged by Greek Emmanouil Karalis. Karalis, medalist in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris and current European champion, cleared all heights at his first attempt, up to 6.05m. Duplantis, on the other hand, had to take two attempts to clear 6.10m.
Despite winning the competition, Duplantis stopped at 6.15m, against his rival's 6.10m, without even attempting to improve his world record (6.27m, set a few weeks earlier in Clermont-Ferrand). In Xiamen, Duplantis did not improve his record either, and it could have even been a defeat if the competition had been more successful.
Indeed, Emmanouil Karalis failed twice at 5.82m and even injured himself on his second attempt when his pole fell on his face. He went to the hospital and did not attempt a third jump, finishing second behind Dutchman Menno Vloon.
A Diamond League vs. Grand Slam Track: A Battle for Dominance
The Diamond League consists of fourteen meetings spread across the season, ending in August with the final in Zurich (Switzerland). But the Grand Slam Track (GST), launched by former American sprint king Michael Johnson, poses a challenge to this established format.
The GST offers an innovative format with attractive bonuses, substantial prize money, and head-to-head competitions, differentiating it significantly from the Diamond League model. Here’s a breakdown of how GST challenges the Diamond League:
- Head-to-Head Matchups: Grand Slam Track emphasizes head-to-head competition between the same athletes across several events, providing a consistent and engaging format for spectators.
- Fixed Roster: GST features a fixed roster of 48 athletes, providing a familiar cast of athletes throughout the season, potentially fostering fan loyalty and anticipation.
- Significant Prize Money: With tens of millions of dollars in total prizes on offer, the direct event prize money in GST is significantly higher than in the Diamond League.
The Diamond League has announced a record prize fund of 9.24 million dollars for the season, offering double the prize money for each of the 14 meetings and the final. However, GST's prize money is still much more lucrative.
While GST's innovative approach could attract new audiences, it faces criticisms for a lackluster debut and must work to establish itself as a preferred choice among athletes and fans in a market dominated by longstanding events.
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- Despite the swelling competition from Emmanouil Karalis, Olympic champion Armand Duplantis managed to secure a win in the pole vault at the Xiamen meeting in the Diamond League.
- The Grand Slam Track, launched by Michael Johnson, poses a significant challenge to the Diamond League, offering head-to-head matchups, a fixed roster, and substantial prize money, aiming to attract new audiences.
- Despite the increased prize fund in the Diamond League, there is still a vast difference in prize money on offer compared to the Grand Slam Track, putting pressure on the Diamond League to maintain its dominance in the sports market.
