In a thrilling performance at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Mondo Duplantis cemented his legacy as a pole vault legend. 

After easily winning the gold medal, the 25-year-old athlete put on a show for the roaring crowd, successfully jumping 6.30 meters to set his 14th world record. 

The moment, which came on his final attempt, was a highlight of the championships and showed why he is widely considered the greatest pole vaulter of all time.

Duplantis entered the competition as the clear favorite and quickly took control, flying over 6.00 m, 6.10 m, and 6.15 m to seal the gold medal. 

With the win in hand and the crowd of 60,000 roaring, he then asked for the bar to be set at 6.30 m, a new world record height. 

On his first two attempts, he came agonizingly close, with the bar wobbling before falling. 

But on his third and final try, he took off down the runway, propelled himself into the air, and soared over the bar with barely a touch. 

The crowd erupted as the bar stayed put, and Duplantis unleashed his signature celebration, sprinting around the track, flexing, and sharing a moment with his fiancee and family in the stands.

Afterward, a beaming Duplantis said the enthusiastic crowd was the key difference from his last visit to the same stadium during the fanless 2021 Olympics.

“To give you guys this world record is amazing,” he said. “The crowd was so loud. Thank you so much. I’m just so happy.” 

His win marked his 49th consecutive victory and came with a $70,000 prize for the gold medal, plus a $100,000 bonus for the world record.

While Duplantis often seems to be competing against only himself, the men’s pole vault final was a testament to the competition that pushes him to be his best. 

Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis took silver with a strong jump of 6.00 m, while Australia’s Kurtis Marschall earned bronze with a personal-best clearance of 5.95 m. 

Even as they battled for the podium, the rival vaulters showed a spirit of camaraderie, with Karalis using a fan to cool Duplantis down between jumps. 

The Swede has often spoken about how a competitive field provides extra motivation.

Duplantis’s deliberate approach of breaking the record by just one centimeter at a time—a strategy perfected by the legendary Sergey Bubka, who set 35 records during his career—adds to the drama and ensures a constant pursuit of new boundaries. 

This latest feat brings his tally to 14 world records since 2020. At just 25, he has already won every major title in the sport, including two Olympic golds and now three outdoor World Championship titles.

Born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana, to an athletic family, Duplantis’s journey to becoming a global superstar began in his own backyard. 

His American father, Greg, was a former pole vaulter, while his Swedish mother, Helena, was a heptathlete. 

With a pole vault pit set up at home from a young age, Duplantis grew up immersed in the sport. 

Though he had the option to compete for the U.S., he ultimately chose to represent his mother’s native Sweden, a decision that has fueled his meteoric rise.

His dominance has revitalized the pole vault, drawing new fans with his blend of incredible athleticism and a genuine, relatable personality. 

As experts compare him to the likes of Bubka and other all-time greats, the only question that remains is how high he can eventually go. 

For now, with the 6.30 m mark cleared, Duplantis has once again demonstrated that for him, the sky truly is the limit.