The peerless Mondo Duplantis did it again.
On his third attempt at rewriting his own world record on Monday night, September 15, the pole vault superstar cleared the bar at 6.30 meters.
His two earlier attempts knocked the crossbar off the uprights, resulting in back-to-back fouls.
No problem. The master went back to work after a short break, as the enthusiastic crowd cheered with delight.
Duplantis' thrilling achievement was a fitting conclusion to an exciting day of competition at the 2025 World Athletics Championships at Tokyo's National Stadium.
The day's competition schedule began with Tanzanian Alphonce Felix Simbu's victory in a photo finish over Amanal Petros of Germany in the men's marathon. In a rare sprinting duel to close out a marathon, they both reached the finish line in 2 hours, 9 minutes, 48 seconds. But Simbu was, in fact, 0.03 seconds faster.
On Monday night, the spotlight shined on the 25-year-old Duplantis, who was born in Lafayette, Louisiana. He has represented Sweden (his mother's homeland) throughout his track career.
'I Always Try to Enjoy Myself'
The greatest pole vaulter of all time always revels in the face of a challenge, and the aforementioned foul attempts didn't diminish his confidence.
Instead, he took a short break after each world-record attempt, then tried again.
"In big moments like these I always try to enjoy myself," he told reporters later.
At 10:47 PM, about 26 minutes after the women's 100-meter hurdles final, the night's last remaining race had wrapped up, Duplantis challenged himself in pursuit of history.
He did it! Rising high and landing with ease, without a foul.
And Duplantis, the two-time reigning Olympic champ, extended his winning streak to 36 athletics meets. And for those keeping score at home, it marked the 14th time he had broken the world record.
Greece's Emmanouil Karalis claimed the silver medal (6.00 meters) and Australia's Kurtis Marschall was awarded the bronze (5.95).
The Thrill of Victory for Mondo Duplantis
How did Mondo Duplantis react after his latest world record, which surpassed his previous mark of 6.29 meters?
During a news conference, he said: "6.30 meters sounds super nice, super clean, a new barrier for our sport. And it sounds a lot better than 6.29 meters, for sure. It's way more special [than any other record], like night and day."
The three-time world champion continued: "Having a world record in a championship meet is extra special for me and everyone. It's the most important competition of the year. A lot more people are going to be watching this live, for sure."
As an elite athlete, Duplantis is expected to win every time he enters a competition.
So how does he handle the pressure linked to those expectations?
"I have confidence in my preparation and who I am as an athlete and a jumper," Duplantis said at the news conference. "It's not the first time I've been in this situation. I'm used to going up there and playing the game.
"Sometimes it feels like your whole life is on the line at the end of the day, and sometimes it's not that deep. I leave everything out there and give my full self."
Duplantis then said, "A lot of people expect world records from me a lot of times. I've shown that whenever the conditions are right, and I'm up for it, then I have a really good chance."
A Riveting Finish in the Men's 3,000 Steeplechase
New Zealand's Geordie Beamish emerged victorious in a down-to-the-wire finish in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase final.
The lead changed hands several times over the final few laps of the race, and the outcome wasn't decided until Beamish's late burst of speed in the closing meters. He won the world title in 8 minutes, 33.88 seconds.
It was a stunning feat, with Beamish edging Morocco's two-time Olympic and two-time world champion Soufiane El Bakkali (8:33.95). Kenya's Edmund Serem placed third (8:34.56).
For Japan, Ryuji Miura was eighth (8:35.90) among the race's 15 finishers.
Two days earlier, Miura was third in his qualifying heat, completing the race in 8:30.43.
Day 3 at the World Athletics Championships
Also Monday, Canada's Camryn Rogers triumphed in the women's hammer throw final. Rogers grabbed the gold with a heave of 80.51 meters. Her winning toss now ranks second on the all-time list.
China's Jie Zhao was the runner-up (77.60), followed by compatriot Jiale Zhang (77.10).
Speaking to reporters after winning her second world title, Rogers recalled when she took up the hammer throw.
"I first picked up a hammer on 5 January 2012," Rogers said, according to the World Athletics website. "I'll never forget the date, it's just ingrained in my head. It was not good, I promise you. But at that moment, I just couldn't think of any time in my life where I'd felt more powerful."
Rogers explained why her title-winning feat on Monday resonated so much for her.
"[My 80-meter throw] makes me think of my 12-year-old self and it makes me think of everything that she dreamed of when she started training," the 26-year-old told reporters. "I just think of her and I just think of how proud she would be of me."
Switzerland's Ditaji Kambundji won the women's 100-meter hurdles final in 12.24 seconds.
Nigeria's Tobi Amusan finished second (12.29 seconds), and American Grace Stark secured the bronze (12.34).
It was a commanding performance for the 23-year-old Kambundji, who earned her first Diamond League victory in 2024 in Doha.
Kambundji Reflects on Winning Her 1st World Title
"It's crazy. I knew I had it in me," Kambundji said of her Monday victory. Earlier in the day, she was clocked in 12.44 seconds in a semifinal heat.
"This is something I have been working for and to run it in the way I wanted to is special," she said. "Getting a personal best is nice but all that mattered today was the title. It's amazing to be world champion."
Long Jumper Tentoglou Makes Quick Work of Qualifying
Two-time reigning Olympic long jump champion Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece booked a spot in the final with a leap of 8.17 meters on his first attempt. Right away, he surpassed the qualifying standard of 8.15, giving him a short night of work at National Stadium.
Jamaica's Tajay Gayle, the 2019 world champion, was the top qualifier (8.28 meters). Spain's Lester Lecay was second (8.21) and Tentoglou was No 3.
The top 12 from two qualifying groups advanced to the final on Thursday, September 17.
Japanese jumper Yuki Hashioka just missed the cut, placing 13th (7.95 meters).
Muratake Advances in the Men's 110 Hurdles
Japan's Rachid Muratake had the fourth-fastest time in the men's 110-meter hurdles qualifying heats on Monday night. He completed the fifth heat in 13.22 seconds.
The 23-year-old entered the world championships with the third-fastest time in 2025 in the event ― 12.92 seconds at the Athlete Night Games in Fukui on August 16.
The semifinals and final are scheduled for Tuesday night.
Muratake was the fifth-place finisher in the 110 hurdles final at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
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