It is the most likely title of this world championship and yet it is impressive again: Armand Duplantis takes gold in the pole vault. The man, who hasn't had any competition for what feels like an eternity, not only flies to the title in Eugene, he also sets the next world record.
He just jumps in another world: Pole vault superstar Armand Duplantis has made his first outdoor world championship title perfect with a world record at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene. The 22-year-old Swede crossed a phenomenal 6.21 meters at the end of the World Cup, beating the old record by one centimeter. He also secured a bonus of $100,000.
For Duplantis it is the third world record this year. On March 7th he had crossed 6.20 meters at the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade and two weeks earlier in the same place 6.19 meters. In pole vaulting, world records achieved indoors and outdoors are equal. "I was a bit tired, but I love jumping here in Eugene," said the exceptional athlete, who won the last missing title with World Championship gold. Duplantis has already been an Olympic champion, indoor world champion and European indoor and outdoor champion.
For Bo Kanda Lita Baehre, fourth at the World Championships, the dream of a medal has not yet come true. After jumping 5.87 meters it was the end of the line for the 23-year-old from Leverkusen, who finished seventh. Lita Baehre had recently improved to 5.90 meters at the German championships, but needed many attempts. "In a championship you have to jump every height in the first attempt, the timing wasn't quite right yet," he said on ARD, but still said about his performance and the height: "That was the best championship I had."
Oleg Zernikel even came in fifth. The Olympic ninth from Landau also overcame 5.87 meters, but needed fewer attempts up to that point. It was the first time in his career that he took that height. Torben Blech from Leverkusen was eliminated in qualifying. "It was the best competition in my career so far," said Zernikel on ARD and said about Duplantis: "He jumps so easily, he makes it easy, and we work at 5.87."
