Greek pole vaulter Emmanouil Karalis claimed the silver medal at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo after a dramatic final that saw him clear six metres.
The gold went to Sweden’s Armand Duplantis, who once again rewrote history by setting his 14th world record, clearing 6.30 metres. This triumph also marked his third world championship title.
Karalis initially struggled, failing his first two attempts at 5.95m and briefly slipping to fourth place. On his third attempt, however, he cleared the bar before pushing past the six-metre mark, sealing his place on the podium.
Australia’s Kurtis Marschall equalled his personal best with 5.95m to secure a second world bronze medal.
Duplantis, who grew up in Louisiana but represents Sweden through his mother’s heritage, continued his extraordinary unbeaten run, stretching it to 49 consecutive competitions. After securing the gold, he kept spectators on their feet for another half-hour as he attempted the new record.
On his final effort, the bar wobbled but stayed in place as Duplantis celebrated his achievement. His victory brings him $70,000 in prize money, alongside a $100,000 bonus for breaking the world record at the championships.
Source: Ekathimerini
