日本語
  • Sponsors BannerWorld Athletics Partner
  • Sponsors BannerWorld Athletics Partner
  • Sponsors BannerWorld Athletics Partner
  • Sponsors BannerWorld Athletics Partner
  • Sponsors BannerWorld Athletics Partner
  • Sponsors BannerWorld Athletics Media Partner
  • Sponsors BannerCity of World Championships 25
  • Sponsors BannerWorld Athletics Supporter
  • Sponsors BannerWorld Athletics Supporter
  • Sponsors BannerWorld Athletics Supporter
  • Sponsors BannerWorld Athletics Supplier
  • Sponsors BannerWorld Athletics Supplier
  • Sponsors BannerWorld Athletics Supplier
  • Sponsors BannerWorld Athletics Supplier
World Athletics+

Previews09 Sep 2025


WCH Tokyo 25 preview: men's pole vault

FacebookTwitterEmail

Mondo Duplantis in Budapest (© Getty Images)

  • Mondo Duplantis starts as the undisputed favourite, having set three world records in 2025
  • Emmanouil Karalis has become history's fourth-highest vaulter this year and Duplantis's toughest opponent
  • Past global champions Renaud Lavillenie and Sam Kendricks also in contention

Not only is Mondo Duplantis one of the biggest stars of the sport, he heads to Tokyo with a two-year unbeaten streak of 35 competitions and having set three world records this year.

Duplantis, winner of the past seven global pole vault titles, will be aiming for another gold medal when he returns to Tokyo, the city where he won his first Olympic title in 2021. The Swedish vaulter has soared over six metres in 13 of his 15 competitions this year, and typically wins with huge margins.

But one man came close to beating Duplantis in their last competition before Tokyo. Greece's Emmanouil Karalis matched Duplantis at 6.00m at the Diamond League Final in Zurich with the Swede only winning on countback.

Karalis, the Olympic bronze medallist, has enjoyed a superb season, topped by his 6.08m vault at the Greek Championships, making him the fourth-highest vaulter in history. He has cleared six metres in 11 of his competitions this year, routinely finishing runner-up to Duplantis.

Two-time world champion Sam Kendricks is third in the world rankings this year after another consistent season. The US vaulter, who took Olympic silver last year, finished third behind Duplantis and Karalis at this year's World Indoor Championships and more recently at the Diamond League Final.

Australia's Kurtis Marschall, bronze medallist in Budapest two years ago, heads to Tokyo with a season's best of 5.93m and consistently makes the final at major championships. Ernest John Obiena of the Philippines is another proven championship performer, earning world silver in 2023 and bronze in 2022. 

Renaud Lavillenie, the 2012 Olympic champion and former world record-holder, continues to perform well. The 38-year-old cleared 5.91m indoors earlier this year and has vaulted 5.82m four times outdoors. He is joined on the French team by Thibau Collet, the fifth-place finisher at the 2023 World Championships, who has the same indoor and outdoor season's bests as Lavillenie.

Other contenders include Ersu Sasma, who set a Turkish record of 5.92m in July, and Austin Miller, who won the US Trials with a PB of 5.92m.

Nika Aurora Kljucaric for World Athletics
Produced as part of the World Athletics Media Academy project

Discipline stats

Men's pole vault timetable

ROUNDDATELOCAL TIMEMY TIME
Qualification09/13/202519:0510:05StartlistResultSummary
Final09/15/202519:4910:49StartlistResult

Previous medallists

POSATHLETECOUNTRYMARK
1Armand DUPLANTISSWE6.10
2Ernest John OBIENAPHI6.00
3Kurtis MARSCHALLAUS5.95
3Christopher NILSENUSA5.95

2025 season's best

POSATHLETECOUNTRYMARK
1Armand DUPLANTISSWE6.30
2Emmanouil KARALISGRE6.08
3Christopher NILSENUSA6.01
4Kurtis MARSCHALLAUS5.95
4Sam KENDRICKSUSA5.95
ATHLETECOUNTRYMARK
Armand DUPLANTISSWE6.29
Armand DUPLANTISSWE6.30 *
* Pending ratification
Pages related to this article
Competitions