HIGH & MIGHTY

Duplantis wins third world title and breaks his own record... again

- FROM PAUL EDDISON in Tokyo

HE waited until the crowd noise increased - and then Mondo Duplantis delivered with the most spectacular moment of this year's World Championships in Tokyo.

With his incredible ability, and a universal deep breath as the bar stayed on, the showman of track and field had taken pole vaulting to another level — 6.30 metres.

A day after Usain Bolt was acclaimed by the Japanese crowds, his successor as the face of athletics eased to a third successive world title to go with his two Olympic gold medals.

Duplantis, 25, who grew up in Louisiana but competes for his mother’s native Sweden, first broke the world record on February 8, 2020 with 6.17m. He has improved upon the mark by one centimetre every time.