Stockholm, June 16(HS): Sweden’s Armand Duplantis broke the pole vault world record during the Diamond League competition, clearing a height of 6.28 meters for the twelfth time. The two-time Olympic champion, originally from the U.S., surpassed his previous record from February by one centimeter on his first attempt at the Olympic Stadium in Stockholm. The favorable weather and the excited crowd enhanced his performance. Duplantis had promised to make a record attempt before the event, and the stadium erupted in applause upon his introduction.

Australia’s Kurtis Marshall attempted to challenge him but only managed a maximum height of 5.90 meters, failing three times to clear the six-meter mark. When the bar was set at 6.28 meters, Duplantis successfully cleared it on his first attempt, resulting in a jubilant celebration in the stadium. He celebrated his achievement by removing his jersey and sharing the moment with friends and family. In the women’s 400-meter hurdles, Dutch athlete Femke Bol showcased her speed, winning with a season-best time of 52.11 seconds, while America’s Dalilah Muhammad finished second, trailing by 0.8 seconds. The event highlighted Duplantis’s historic achievement.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar