POLES APART

Duplantis' dozen records proves he's one of greats

- By Andy Dunn

ON ONE of many epic nights in the Stade de France last August, the atmosphere was still electric a good while after Keely Hodgkinson had thrilled the world with her 800m triumph.

Olympic competition was continuing late into the Paris evening — well, competition is stretching it a little because everyone inside the arena knew who was going to win the men’s pole vault.

One of the coolest athletes on the planet must surely be Mondo Duplantis.

And, sure enough, his second Olympic gold medal had already been secured when the bar was raised to 6.25 metres, then a world record height.

Duplantis cleared the bar at his third attempt. It was the ninth time he had set a world record.