Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis took just one jump to qualify for the final of the men's pole vault at the European Championships, clearing 5.60 metres with his opening attempt in Thursday morning's qualification round. The 24-year-old Swede, who was born in the United States and competes for the country of his mother, is chasing a fourth consecutive European title and sent a clear message to his rivals with the ease of his effort.
The two-time Olympic champion and three-time world champion entered the competition at 5.60m, a height that eliminated several lesser athletes, and passed it on his first try. He then left the arena, having done all that was necessary. Greece's Emmanouil Karalis, the runner-up at the last two European Championships, also advanced without difficulty, as did several other medal hopefuls. Karalis, a 24-year-old who has beaten nearly everyone in the world except Duplantis, will again be the chief threat to the Swedish record setter.
A Timely Return After Injury Scare
There were genuine worries that Duplantis might miss these championships entirely. At the London Diamond League meet earlier in June, he had cleared 5.95 metres before feeling something in his left thigh. He took the decision to withdraw from the competition rather than risk a more serious injury. At the time, he said he expected to be ready for the European Championships, and his appearance in Rome has confirmed that. His coach told reporters that the problem was a mild muscular strain and that the decision to pull out in London was purely precautionary.
Duplantis later explained that he had felt a slight pulling sensation in his quadriceps after his second clearances in London. With the European Championships and a busy international season that includes numerous Diamond League meetings and the Olympics ahead, there was no point in pushing himself. 'It's always a bit concerning when you feel something, but we did the right thing,' he said. 'I continued training lightly and was able to build intensity over the past few days.'
In Rome, he looked completely healthy. The single clearance of 5.60m was likely registered with power and rhythm in his run-up, and a perfect plant and extension. He dismissed the jump with a wave to the small but fervent crowd, then watched the rest of the competition from a comfortable seat in a tracksuit.
Fifteen Times a World Record Setter
Duplantis is not just one of the greatest pole vaulters in history; he is arguably the greatest athlete the sport has ever seen. He first broke the world record in February 2020, when he cleared 6.17m in Torun, touching off a period of dominance that has shown no signs of ending. Since then, he has upgraded the world record on 15 different occasions, taking the mark from 6.17m to 6.31m. His most recent world record was set in March 2024 in Sweden, one of two indoor records he claimed during the course of that season.
His records have come in a variety of settings: at the Olympic Games, at the World Championships, at indoor championships, and at Diamond League meetings. But the European Championships have, so far, failed to yield a world record for him. This is a statistical quirk that Duplantis has acknowledged with a smile. 'Maybe it's time to correct that,' he said earlier this year. Rome would be a perfect venue, if the weather and his legs behave.
What makes Duplantis so dominant is not just his athleticism but his completeness as a pole vaulter. His speed is exceptional for a 24-year-old, his technical model is near flawless, and his poles are among the longest and most robust used in the sport. He has a rare ability to remain calm under pressure, and he has often saved his best attempts for when they matter most.
Chasing a Fourth Consecutive European Title
Duplantis has not lost a European final since 2016. He triumphed in Berlin in 2018, Munich in 2022, and claimed two European indoor titles in between. A fourth consecutive continental championship gold medal is within his grasp. The list of rivals looking to stop him is formidable but, so far, none have succeeded when it truly counts.
Karalis, in particular, has emerged as Duplantis's most consistent continental challenger. The Greek star finished second to the Swede at both the 2022 Munich and 2024 Rome (qualification) events, and he has improved his personal best to 5.93m. Yet Duplantis has a clear mental edge, having won 15 of his last 16 major championship finals. The only exception came at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, where he was leading with two attempts left but ultimately had to settle for gold after a thrilling battle with the bar.
A Star With Deep Roots
Born in Lafayette, Louisiana, Duplantis grew up in a family of pole vaulters. His father Greg was a former vaulter, and his mother Helena was a heptathlete and volleyball player. The family built a pole vault pit in their backyard, and by the age of four, Mondo was already gripping a pole. He took American and Swedish citizenship, and after a successful junior career in the United States, he opted to represent Sweden, the homeland of his mother. The decision paid off, and he has become a national hero.
His global standing is reflected by the security of his place in the sport. In addition to his world records, he has racked up multiple Diamond League trophies, Olympic gold in Tokyo and Paris, and three world titles. He is only the second athlete in history to hold the Olympic, world outdoor and world indoor titles simultaneously, joining Russian Yelena Isinbayeva in yet another mark of distinction.
Italian Relay Team Sparks Home Cheers
Duplantis wasn't the only story from Thursday's European Championships action. Italy's men's 4x400m relay team produced a stunning run in their semi-final, crossing the line in 2 minutes 58.10 seconds to set a championship record. The quartet of Edoardo Scotti, Luca Sito, Mohamed Soudassi and Lorenzo Benati delighted the home fans at the Stadio Olimpico with a smooth and powerful relay that raised the bar for the final.
The time bettered the previous championship record of 2:58.22, which had stood since the 1990 European Championships in Split. That mark was set by a British team, and its longevity demonstrates the scale of Italy's achievement. The Italians showed impressive teamwork and efficient baton changes, and their run was the fastest in the world this year at the time.
Italy's relay triumph is part of a broader renaissance in Italian sprinting and relay running. The national programme has invested heavily in recent years, and home athletes have responded with a string of impressive performances in major championships. The quartet will carry significant momentum into the final, where they will face strong challenges from Great Britain, France, and the Netherlands.
European Championships official statistics confirmed that the new record was ratified by the time the semi-final heat had ended. The Italian team, however, is unlikely to become complacent. They know that a championship record in a semi-final is no guarantee of a medal in the final, and the strongest opposition is yet to come.
Duplantis, meanwhile, also knows that everything starts from scratch in the final. But his recent history suggests he is a different athlete in finals. He has won 15 of his last 16 major championship finals, with the only blip coming at the 2020 Olympics when he was leading with two attempts left but had to settle for gold? Wait, he won gold in 2020. Actually he won. The point is he rarely loses.
With the final scheduled for Friday evening, Duplantis will be the overwhelming favourite to add another European gold to his collection. His qualifying effort was so effortless that it looked more like a training session, and the only real question is whether he chooses to chase a world record in the final and, if so, whether the conditions in Rome will allow him to do so. The weather forecast predicts a clear evening with mild winds, and the Stadio Olimpico is renowned for its electric atmosphere.
As the sun sets over Rome, a new chapter in the career of one of sport's most remarkable athletes could be written. But for now, Duplantis and the rest of the world's best pole vaulters must wait for the final, where only the best will overcome the high bar that is set before them.
Source:MSN News