Duplantis 'Claws' to new heights with dramatic 14th pole vault world record

Swedish showman dons his special spikes to win third title before clearing 6.30m

- Sean Ingle

The pole vault competition was two hours and 20 minutes old when Mondo Duplantis finally got serious at these World Athletics Championships. The bar had just been raised to six metres. And so Mondo reached into his kitbag and dug out the Claw.

It is his weird-looking special shoe, with a spike protruding from the front of it like a medieval torture implement - and the 25-year-old Swede takes it out only on those occasions when he sniffs a world record in the air.

At this point five men were still jousting for the world title. But after Duplantis had breezed clear at 6m, 6.10m and 6.15m his eighth consecutive global title - and a $70,000 (£51,000) first prize - was secured. Now history was calling.

There was a nod to the official and the bar was pushed to 6.30m. Now there was a 14th world record to chase. Duplantis uses the Claw shoes because it means that in his 20 strides he can get up to speed quicker, plant the pole faster and soar even higher - providing the technique is right.

"Whenever I think that I have a chance to break world records I do bring out the Claw," Duplantis said. "I don't do it every time, but when it comes out, then you know it's business time. I can really feel the benefit from the very beginning of the running, and the way that I'm able to push the first few steps and build up speed."