Sweden's Duplantis breaks own world record in men's pole vault

22-year-old Olympic champion improves his own record, clearing 6.21 meters to win gold at World Athletics Championships in Oregon

By Emre Asikci

ISTANBUL (AA) - Sweden's Armand Duplantis broke his own world record with a jump of 6.21 meters (20.37 feet) to win gold in the men's pole vault at the World Athletics Championships.

"I did not think about the record that much today. Usually, it is always somewhere in the back of my mind, but today I was really focused on the win and I really wanted to win the gold so badly," Duplantis said after his performance on Sunday in Eugene, Oregon, the US.

"You get quite a bit of pressure on you when you’re the only person competing in the entire track. It’s an honor when people stay in their seats and it’s literally only me on the track," the Olympic champion added.

The 22-year-old athlete broke his own world record of 6.20 meters, which he set in March in Belgrade, Serbia.

American Christopher Nilsen came second, while Ernest John Obien of the Philippines finished third, both with a best of 5.94m.

Duplantis won the gold medal in the Summer Olympics in Tokyo in 2020.

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