Sweden’s Armand Duplantis set the best record in outdoor pole vault history when he scored 6.16 meters at the Stockholm International Meeting, eighth of 13 events in the Diamond League.

Duplantis, 22, the world record holder in the competition (6.20 m, which he reached at the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade last March), managed to achieve his achievement two weeks before the World Championships in Eugene (from July 15 to 24) . ). In July of the following year) he erased his best outdoor record, which was recorded in September 2020 in Rome, by jumping 6.15 m.

– “Defend your land” –

Born in Louisiana in the US to an American father and a Swedish mother, “Mundo” Duplantis has been dominating the pole vault for several years now. He became the 2018 European Champion in Berlin, the 2021 Olympic Champion in Tokyo and the Belgrade World Indoor Champion this year, and only the outdoor world title is missing from his record, knowing he came second in the championship. peace in Doha in 2019.

Duplantis has broken the world record four times since 2020, gradually lifting it from 6.17m to 6.20m this winter when he became world indoor champion in Belgrade.

Duplantis had difficulty early in the competition as he needed a third attempt to clear the 5.83 m barrier. After that, he easily cleared the 5.93 m and 6.03 m barriers before clearing the 6.16 m barrier on his second attempt.

“What an amazing feeling,” Duplantis said in a mixed zone statement. “It’s great to jump on the track where I train, I live 10 minutes from here and I wanted to protect my home. The Swedish fans gave me extra motivation.”

“I felt like I was at the level to accomplish such a feat. Not necessarily at my best level, because I feel like I can still get better. I wasn’t perfect. I still have room to grow,” he added.

– Jacobs is leaving –

The achievement of Duplantis for the fans was the shocking news announced by the organizers a few hours before its start and associated with the removal of the Olympic champion in Tokyo in the 100 m Italian Marcel Jacobs due to the “pain” that he experienced in training.

Jacobs’ injury came two weeks before the World Championships scheduled in Eugene, USA between July 15 and 24, as he knew he had recently recovered from a hip injury that kept him out of competition in recent weeks.

“After yesterday’s (Wednesday) pain in training and after seeing his medical staff, the decision was made not to risk it,” the organizers wrote in a press release.

But his coach Paulo Camusi underestimated the new setback for his runner, who started the season with a 60m win at the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade before injuring his hip in mid-May.

“Since yesterday, after training, Marcel felt discomfort in the muscles of the groin. We reassessed the situation this morning, but his body showed signs of discomfort. Two weeks before the World Cup, we can’t risk running this evening.”

“The situation is under control. He has a slight pain in the gluteal muscle, ”he added.

The black streak continues for the 27-year-old Italian Olympic champion who surprised everyone in Tokyo last summer by taking gold in the 100m relay and four 100m relays before becoming world champion in the 60m indoor in Belgrade in March last year.

Intestinal problems in Kenya in early May and a hip injury in the middle of the same month hampered Jacobs’ preparation this season as he only competed in three 100m races, two of them on May 18 during a meeting in Savona, Italy, when he scored 9.99 seconds in qualifying and 10.04 seconds in the final, and then last week at the Italian Championships in Rieti when he finished the distance with a time of 10.12 seconds.

The Italian was counting on meeting in Stockholm to find a high-level match ahead of the World Championship in Oregon.

Jacobs confirmed at a press conference on Wednesday that he would fly to the United States immediately after the meeting in Stockholm.

In the absence of Jacobs at the meeting in Stockholm, South African Akane Simbin set a time of 10.02 seconds, ahead of Britain’s Race Prescod of 10.15 seconds.

British World Champion Dina Asher-Smith took first place in the 200m with a time of 22.37 seconds, defeating Switzerland’s 60m World Champion Mugenga Kambondji in the Photo Finish final.

And Dutchwoman Wimke Paul proved herself again in the 400m hurdles, taking first place with a time of 52.27 seconds, confirming her readiness for a fierce World Cup fight with the Americans Delilah Muhammad, world distance champion, and Sidney. McLaughlin, who set a new race world record (51.41 s) during the US Trials late last week.

“I still hope to do something special in Eugene as well,” Paul said.

“Today was a good race, but it wasn’t perfect. After all, this time I am very happy.”

Among the men, Alison dos Santos of Brazil set the fastest race time this season and sixth all-time with a record of 46.80 seconds.

“I am very proud of this performance. My preparation went well and this result shows it. I think about the world record every day, every night and dream about it,” said the Brazilian, who won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics. referring to Norwegian Carsten Warholm’s record of 45.94 seconds at the Tokyo Olympics last summer.