AW promotion.
Armand “Mondo” Duplantis is already one of many biggest pole vaulters in historical past, however his curious technique whereas attempting to beat world data has picked up the eye from the media, as he’s doing it one centimetre at a time. This slow-rise technique conceals sensible incentives and a transparent roadmap for future makes an attempt… however why?
The cash incentive behind it
One of the regularly cited causes for Duplantis’s tiny increments is monetary incentive. Breaking a world file in observe and discipline carries a typical bonus of $100,000 awarded by World Athletics and the sponsored “New World Report Award” programme.
Nonetheless, the bonus is often granted as soon as per meet, so Duplantis has an incentive to lift the bar by the smallest attainable increment, guaranteeing a file and the bonus whereas preserving room for later makes an attempt. The Swedish athlete has additionally hinted at, and has been reported to obtain, further bonuses from sponsors for setting world data. Some commentary even suggests he views the system as a glitch.
Thus, by growing the file in small steps, he maximizes the variety of instances he can set off the bonus payout in his profession, as an alternative of risking overshooting or exceeding what he can reliably clear and lacking it completely.
The Historical past of His Data
To grasp the inch-by-inch philosophy he’s following, one should see how his file progressions are unfolding. Earlier than Duplantis achieved the file for the primary time, one of the best try was 6.16m, by Renaud Lavillenie in 2014. In February 2020, Duplantis first broke that with a 6.17m. Through the years, he has improved his personal file a number of instances, at all times by one centimetre (6.18m, 6.19m, 6.20m…)
Nonetheless, the development has taken pace after the Paris Olympics. There, he beat the file twice, with a 6.24m after which a 6.25m mark. A month later, on August 25, 2024, he raised the file once more on the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial, to six.26m. Since then, he has improved the file 4 extra instances, setting it for now in 6.30m, his 14th world file.
This gradual however regular climb is the literal embodiment of “inch by inch”, as every new mark is simply sufficient to reset the world file, accumulate the bonus related to it, and go away a path for the following transfer. There are totally different commentators suggesting that Duplantis nonetheless has a whole lot of room to enhance, as his marks in coaching are even higher.
It’s additionally attention-grabbing that a few of his file jumps occurred throughout high-profile meets, such because the Olympics, World Championships, and Diamond League conferences, giving every increment heightened consideration and reward. That is making him the brand new face of athleticism for the informal viewer, one thing the game has lacked in the previous few years.
Thus, his file historical past is a mix of consistency, strategic scheduling, and opportunism.
When’s the Subsequent Alternative to Beat It?
Now that Duplatins holds the world file at 6.30m, set in September 2025 in Tokyo, the query turns into: the place and when would possibly he attempt to reset it once more?
The attainable subsequent try would possibly are available a Diamond League assembly or any totally different main athletic meets. Duplaintis is a part of the Diamond League circuit and different top-tier competitions, making them best platforms to aim new data. Verify this web site in case you are trying to wager in any assembly of the Diamond League and whether or not Duplantis will break the file.
Another choice is perhaps in any new occasions or particular championships that begin within the 2026 season. For instance, the World Athletics Final Championship, which shall be held for the primary time in September 2026 in Budapest, could possibly be an important alternative. It has a big prize fund ($10 million) and it ought to deliver excessive visibility. Moreover, Duplantis has been named “Final Star” for this version. This could possibly be a marquee alternative for him to aim one more file below grand highlight.
Past that, future World Athletics Championships, Olympic Video games, or continental championships (such because the European Championships) stay logical phases, given the status and reward related to them. His sample of file makes an attempt in these apex occasions suggests he would possibly time his subsequent push for one among these.
Timing and technique constraints
For his subsequent try, he may have some timing and technique constraints that he’ll have to concentrate on, as he’s been doing to date. For instance, because the world-record bonus is just awarded as soon as per meet, if Duplantis already broke the file earlier in that meet he could select to not try additional increments to keep away from “losing” the bonus alternative. This occurred again in Tokyo 2024, the place he raised the world file twice within the Olympic Video games.
Different issues would possibly come up, each from his bodily situation and exterior components. For instance, unhealthy climate would possibly make issues tougher, or he may have a foul day which could stop him from attempting it.
Moreover, every increment turns into riskier. With every further centimetre it will likely be more durable to clear it, so he should practice it sufficient instances to be sure you make it. Stories counsel that he’s already in a position to go additional than the 6.30m mark he has, however making it as soon as in a coaching session it’s not the identical as doing it below stress.
