Athletics: Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis raises his world record to 6.29 meters

It's a matter of centimeters. Swede Armand Duplantis, two-time Olympic pole vault champion, once again improved his world record early Tuesday evening in Budapest, taking it to 6.29 meters, up from 6.28 meters previously.

At 25, "Mondo" Duplantis broke the world record for the 13th time, the third in 2025 after Clermont-Ferrand (6.27 meters) in February and Stockholm (6.28 meters) at home on June 15. This Tuesday, he cleared the bar at 6.29 meters on his second attempt.

Since his performance in Stockholm, he had won three times at six meters and above (6.13 meters in Ostrava, Czech Republic, 6.00 meters in Eugene, Oregon, and 6.05 meters in Monaco). Duplantis recorded his 33rd competition victory, since his fourth place in Monaco on July 21, 2021.

On Tuesday, he secured victory by clearing a bar of 6.11 meters on his first attempt. He finished ahead of Greece's Emmanouil Karalis (6.02 meters) and Australia's Kurtis Marschall (5.83 meters). On his second attempt at 6.29 meters, Duplantis touched the bar with one leg and his stomach, but it stayed on the pegs and the jump was validated.

Duplantis is obviously the favorite for a third consecutive outdoor world title, in a month in Tokyo.