Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis has become the first person to clear 6.30 metres, setting his 14th world record whilst claiming his third successive world championship title in Tokyo.
The 25-year-old achieved the historic feat on his third and final attempt, surpassing his previous best by a centimetre before a captivated crowd at Japan's National Stadium.
This latest triumph represents Duplantis' fourth world record of 2025, marking the most he has established in any calendar year of his career.
The Tokyo crowd remained well past 23:00 local time, having witnessed earlier competitions conclude, to watch the sport's contemporary icon attempt the unprecedented height.
Armand Duplantis broke the world record for a 14th time on Monday
|REUTERS
Greece's Emmanouil Karalis, who finished second and ranks fourth historically in the discipline, demonstrated remarkable sportsmanship by fanning Duplantis between his initial two near-misses at the record height.
The Swedish athlete had already secured victory with a successful 6.15m clearance on his first try, ending Karalis' competitive challenge, before setting the bar at the historic mark.
Silence descended upon the venue as Duplantis prepared for his decisive attempt, transforming into rhythmic clapping at his signal.
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The stadium exploded with celebration as he bounded from the landing mat following his triumphant clearance.
The two-time Olympic gold medallist has maintained an iron grip on pole vaulting's major honours since the Tokyo Olympics four years ago, where his current dominance began.
His collection of eight straight global championships encompasses both indoor and outdoor events, establishing him as the discipline's undisputed leader.
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Armand Duplantis won $100,000 for breaking the world record
|REUTERS
Monday's achievement marked Duplantis' 14th revision of the world record since he first surpassed Renaud Lavillenie's mark in February 2020, clearing 6.17m.
The athlete, commonly known as 'Mondo', arrived at the final with clear ambitions, stating the world record was "on the cards" for the championship event.
His performance earned him $170,000 in prize money, combining the $100,000 world record bonus with the $70,000 championship gold medal reward.
"It's better than I could have imagined. To give you guys this world record is amazing. I'm just so happy," Duplantis told the appreciative audience after his achievement.
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"We used to say that we needed Usain Bolt here to bring some interest to athletics. Duplantis is a superstar and is transcending the sport," said former world 1500m champion Steve Cram.
"Pole vault draws you in, and that is why Armand is a showman. He orchestrates it.
"It is great for the sport and long may he go higher."
Armand Duplantis won his third successive World championship gold
|REUTERS
Bronze medallist Kurtis Marschall from Australia praised the atmosphere and his rival's extraordinary abilities: "It was an amazing night, the fans were fantastic.
"Mondo is from another planet - he is doing incredible things, things many people thought were impossible. I can't wait to see what he's got in the future."
Former Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill offered expert commentary on the BBC: "No one knows Duplantis' limits.
"He is hitting big heights in training but who knows how high he will go? There are a few years of world records in him, for sure."