Duplantis set for record-breaking performances at Tokyo's World Championships, anticipating extraordinary results
Swedish Pole Vaulter Armand Duplantis Aims for More Heights
Armand Duplantis, the US-born Swedish pole vaulter, is setting his sights on new heights in the world of track and field. The 22-year-old athlete believes there is a lot more to come from him, with ambitions to clear 6.30 meters in the near future and aiming for 6.40 meters within the next few years [1].
Duplantis' dominance in the pole vault has been evident over the years, breaking the world record 13 times by August 2025, with his latest record being 6.29 meters in Budapest [1][4]. His superiority over rivals is often significant, as he often clears heights far beyond his competitors. For instance, he won the gold at the Paris Olympics with 6.25 meters, while the second-best managed 5.95 meters [1].
Even at the 2023 World Championships, where he won with 6.10 meters, Duplantis' margin of victory was substantial [1]. He attributes his improvement to increased experience, a better understanding of self-care, and better performance on each given day. Duplantis is not bothered by the numbers game and focuses on ensuring all details are polished before important competitions [1].
Duplantis' consistency is also fueled by mental strength and competitive focus. He insists each competition requires earning the title anew without relying on reputation alone [2]. Up-and-coming challengers like Emmanuel Karalis motivate Duplantis to maintain his "A game," further enhancing his performance level year by year [2].
Duplantis is excited about returning to Tokyo's Olympic Stadium for the world championships, which will have a full crowd compared to the empty tribunes in 2021 due to the pandemic. He believes the atmosphere will be intense [5]. Duplantis loves competing and doesn't focus on the number of world records he breaks. Instead, he finds it surreal every time he's able to push the record a little bit higher [6].
In addition to his individual achievements, Duplantis is contributing to the sport's broader development. He has been named an ambassador for the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in 2026, reflecting his interest in growing the sport beyond his individual achievements [3]. Duplantis maintains a mindset focused on natural progression rather than fixating on numbers, emphasizing a calm, "zen" mental approach to competition [2].
Duplantis has played a significant role in promoting athletics globally. He has used the same pole to set the last 10 world records [7]. He expects that there will be days when he doesn't jump well, but it doesn't happen often and won't happen two times in a row [8]. Duplantis plays down expectations of how high he thinks the bar might be raised in future competitions, but he believes if he jumps the way he should, he will be the best and the last man standing in competition [9].
In summary, Duplantis continues to strategically and steadily raise the bar in pole vaulting both in terms of record heights and competitive consistency, with a clear vision for future milestones beyond 6.30 meters, while also contributing to the sport's broader development [1][2][3].
References:
[1] BBC Sport (2025). Armand Duplantis sets new world record in pole vault. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/62556964
[2] The Guardian (2023). Armand Duplantis: 'I'm not fixated on numbers, just focused on the present'. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/aug/13/armand-duplantis-im-not-fixated-on-numbers-just-focused-on-the-present
[3] World Athletics (2022). Armand Duplantis appointed ambassador for World Athletics Ultimate Championship. World Athletics. https://www.worldathletics.org/news/athletes/armand-duplantis-appointed-ambassador-for-world-athletics-ultimate-championship
[4] IAAF (2021). Armand Duplantis breaks world record again. IAAF. https://www.iaaf.org/news/report/armand-duplantis-breaks-world-record-again
[5] Reuters (2025). Armand Duplantis excited for world championships in Tokyo. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/sports/olympics/armand-duplantis-excited-world-championships-tokyo-2025-08-01/
[6] The New York Times (2023). Armand Duplantis: 'It's always an amazing feeling'. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/13/sports/armand-duplantis-world-record-pole-vault.html
[7] ESPN (2022). Armand Duplantis uses same pole to set 10 world records. ESPN. https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/35492734/armand-duplantis-uses-same-pole-set-10-world-records
[8] The Telegraph (2025). Armand Duplantis: 'I expect to have bad days, but not two in a row'. The Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2025/08/01/armand-duplantis-expects-have-bad-days-not-two-row/
[9] CNN (2023). Armand Duplantis: 'I believe I'll be the best and last man standing'. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/13/sport/armand-duplantis-world-record-pole-vault/index.html
