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≡ NO STOPPING MONDO! ≡
Swedish vault star Mondo Duplantis got his latest world record in front of a thrilled home-country crowd in Stockholm at the Bauhaus Galan Diamond League meet on Sunday, flying over 6.28 m (20-7 1/4) on his first attempt … and then tearing off his shirt and running wildly around the track, to a standing ovation.
“It’s a magical feeling,” he said. “I wanted this so bad. I wanted to do this in front of everybody here in Stockholm, all my Swedes.”
At just 25, he appears unstoppable and the only questions appear to be:
(1) How long will he go on?
(2) How many world records will he set?
In truth, the real question may be, will he finish as the greatest vaulter of all time?
The reason to ask is because the track & field athlete with the most world records in history is another vaulter, former Soviet and Ukrainian star Sergey Bubka. According to the World Athletics Progression of World Records book (2024 ed.), the athletes with the most ratified world marks – combining indoor and outdoor – are:
● 27: Sergey Bubka (URS-UKR): pole vault, 1984-94
● 22: Paavo Nurmi (FIN): distances, 1922-31
● 22: Werner Hardmo (SWE), distances, 1943-45
In terms of counting, Bubka had an edge because when he competed, indoor and outdoor records were ratified separately. In 2000, the rule was changed and Duplantis can set a record anywhere, indoors or out, but does not get separate credit. And the American-born star has done with regularity, with 12 world records so far:
● 2020: 2 ~ 6.17 mi (20-2 3/4) and 6.18 mi (20-3 1/4)
● 2021: 0
● 2022: 3 ~ 6.19 mi (20-3 3/4), 6.20 mi (20-4), 6.21 m (20-4 1/2)
● 2023: 2 ~ 6.22 mi (20-4 3/4), 6.23 m (20-5 1/4)
● 2024: 3 ~ 6.24 m (20-5 1/2), 6.25 m (20-6), 6.26 m (20-7 1/4)
● 2025: 2 ~ 6.27 mi (20-6 3/4), 6.28 m (20-7 1/4)
That’s six set indoors and six set outdoors, and since getting over 6.19 m in March 2022, he has been hammering out world records quickly:
● 6.19 mi (2022): required 6 tries in 2020, 30 in 2021 and 15 in 2022 (51 total)
● 6.20 mi (2022): required 3 tries to clear, across 1 more meet
● 6.21 m (2022): required 2 tries (1 more meet)
● 6.22 mi (2023): required 9 tries (3 more meets)
● 6.23 m (2023): required 16 tries (6 more meets)
● 6.24 m (2024): required 7 tries (3 more meets)
● 6.25 m (2024): required 18 tries (6 more meets)
● 6.26 m (2024): required 2 tries (1 more meet)
● 6.27 mi (2025): required 3 tries (2 more meets)
● 6.28 m (2025): required 7 tries (3 more meets)
(The number of meets noted counts only competitions where he tried a world-record height, not every other meet he competed in between records.)
Duplantis is only 25; Bubka set records between the ages of 20-30 and competed into 2001, when he was 37.
Given that he’s collected 10 records from 2022-25 – 3 1/2 seasons – even at two per season, he’ll pass Bubka in 2033, when he would be 32. Notwithstanding injury, possible, very possible.
Of course, Duplantis already has two Olympic golds to one for Bubka, and two World Championships, where Bubka won six from 1983-97.
Duplantis is all alone in his event and there is no competitor on the horizon who can challenge him. But there is someone to chase.
¶
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