Duplantis shatters world mark for 14th time

TOKYO – The world athletics championships were, not for the first time, the Armand Duplantis show on Monday although New Zealand’s Geordie Beamish did his best to share the spotlight after a shock win in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Duplantis kept the drama going to the end in Tokyo – after the Swede retained his crown he went on to break the world record for the 14th time, on his third and final attempt at 6.30 meters.

The 53,000-strong crowd had stayed rooted to their seats even though the action on the track had ended long before.

They witnessed Duplantis jumping into the stand and enjoying a long and passionate kiss with his fiancee Desire Inglander before embracing his parents.

The showman never fails to deliver, and, with his winning smile, wrapped up the gold with a vault of 6.15m before his piece de resistance.

His rivals never laid a finger on him – Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis took silver with a best of 6.00m, then helped to keep Duplantis cool with an electric fan, and Australian Kurtis Marschall claimed bronze with a personal best of 5.95m.

“I felt the only way to leave Japan was to set the world record,” said Duplantis.

“That was my mentality. I don’t know what is next for me at this moment, I don’t care. I will just enjoy this right now.”