Pole vault star makes light work of another European Championships win before making world record attempt, while Malaika Mihambo rediscovers long jump form in spectacular style
At a European Championships that has showcased some of the field events so brilliantly, it was perhaps fitting that the final action of Rome 2024 should see the spotlight falling on one of the best field eventers the world has ever seen.
Long after the dust had settled on the 4x100m relays, Mondo Duplantis found himself in familiar territory – with first place secured and with a world record in mind.
The European Championships have a very special place in the American-born Swede’s heart. It was at the 2018 edition when the then teenager cleared six metres for the first time and truly announced himself to the world.
The capture of a third consecutive European crown outdoors was never in doubt – Duplantis is playing a different game to the rest of the world, never mind the Continent – but still he held on to his habit of bringing the attention on his event as a healthy number of the Stadio Olimpico crowd stayed to watch.
He had gone over first time at every height between 5.65m and 5.97m, while a PB of 5.87m from world indoor bronze medallist Emmanouil Karalis was the closest anyone could get to the Olympic champion. The Greek gave himself a shot at what would have been a temporary lead of 6.02m but it was not to be, while Ersu Sasma of Turkey and Oleg Zernikel of Germany shared bronze with an identical record and a best of 5.82m.
With gold won, Duplantis asked for the bar to be moved straight up to 6.10m and promptly went straight over that to break his own championships record of 6.06m from Munich.
After a lengthy chat with his parents Greg and Helena, also his coaches, then a smile and a nod to the crowd, it was time to tackle the world record height of 6.25m.
On more than one occasion he had the height but, with the clock ticking closer to midnight, the bar would not stay on. Raising the record would have to wait for another day but Duplantis certainly doesn’t seem to be tired of trying (or winning) and the world is not tired of watching.
“I felt really good,” said Duplantis. “Of course, the main goal was to go out there and to win, take home my third gold. I am very satisfied with the height and I did not really think I was attempting the world record today. It was not part of the plan but, after the 6.10m, there was just too much energy there. I looked at my…
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