Duplantis clears 6.21m, Karalis 6.16m in historic pole vault contest in Lausanne

Mondo Duplantis cleared 6.21m to win a historic pole vault contest against Emmanouil Karalis who soared 6.16m during the Wanda Diamond League city event in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Thursday (20).

Sweden’s Duplantis improved his own meeting record of 6.15m and had no failures on his way to his latest record-breaking performance, but Greece’s Karalis offered him a strong challenge as he managed 6.16m – the second-best clearance of his career behind the 6.17m that places him second on the world all-time list behind Duplantis.

Only Duplantis himself has ever gone higher than his 6.21m in Lausanne and the two-time Olympic champion went on to attempt 6.32m – a mark that would have added another centimetre to his world record set in Uppsala in March – but he decided to call it a day after two tries at that height.

"I'm tired! But I feel really good, I feel really happy," said Duplantis. "That was such an amazing competition, everybody jumped so well, so I felt like I really had to step it up. I'm glad I jumped really well.

"That’s competition, that’s what we live for. I love to compete, I love competing against Manolo, especially when he is on his A-game like this. I just like to jump high. That's what I feel like I was made to do."

Competing in the city event held on the shores of Lake Geneva on the eve of the main Athletissima meeting, Duplantis and Karalis were still locked in battle as the bar reached 6.01m – both athletes having perfect scorecards up to that height. They both then passed at 6.11m.

Karalis, the world silver and Olympic bronze medallist, failed his first attempt at 6.16m and Duplantis soared into the lead as he managed it on his first try, adding a centimetre to his own meeting record from 2024. But Karalis responded by matching that new meeting record on his second attempt, clearing a height that only three athletes in history – Duplantis, Karalis and former world record-holder Renaud Lavillenie – have ever managed.

The bar went up to 6.21m, which Duplantis again cleared first time. Karalis had two attempts at that height before saving his last attempt for 6.26m and Duplantis was confirmed the winner when that was unsuccessful. Duplantis then had two attempts at 6.32m.

The epic pole vault competition saw three other athletes clear 5.91m – Kurtis Marschall finishing third, Sondre Guttormsen fourth and Chris Nilsen fifth on countback.

"It's been amazing. I always love competing here," said Karalis, who added 10 centimetres to the previous best ever non-winning mark. "Everyone jumped very well. It's always nice to put on a good show."

The Diamond League meeting continues at the Pontaise Olympic Stadium on Friday.