Armand Duplantis breaks own pole vault jump record, wins Olympic gold - ESPN

SAINT-DENIS, France — The pole vaulter they call «Mondo» really can put on a show.

With the rest of the action at the Olympic track wrapped up for the evening and the crowd of 80,000 at the Stade de France still on its feet, Armand Duplantis rested the pole on his right shoulder and took a deep breath. Then, he lifted up that long piece of carbon fiber and took off down the runway and into the night sky.

Another Olympic gold medal already was his. When he came crashing down into the padding on the other side of that sky-high, pink-tinted bar, so was another world record.

Duplantis, the Louisiana-born 24-year-old who competes for his mother's native Sweden, cleared 6.25 meters (20 feet, 6 inches) to break the world record for the ninth time — but the first time on his sport's grandest stage.

His next move was a sprint to the stands to hug his girlfriend and celebrate his record and second Olympic gold with all those friends and family wearing yellow and blue. The country's king and queen were on hand, as well, to witness Sweden's latest history-making leap into the pole vault pit.

«It's hard to understand, honestly,» he said. «If I don't beat this moment in my career, then I'm pretty OK with that. I don't think you can get much better than what just happened.»

Those in attendance concurred.

«Mondo is an extraordinary jumper because of four factors,» said American Sam Kendricks, who finished second. «One, he's got a great coach for a long time. He's had a lot of time to do it. He's got great equipment and understanding of the event. He's a fan of sport, and he's got God's hand on his back.»

By winning a second straight gold medal and breaking the record for the ninth time — each time by one centimeter — Duplantis is now