Usain Bolt’s motivation that propelled Mondo Duplantis to World Record in Stockholm
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 18.06.25. | 17:38
The two-time Olympic champion revealed that a pre-event chat with Bolt served as the much-needed motivation for his world record
Would you break a world record just to party with the world’s fastest man?
Well, Sweden’s Armand “Mondo” Duplantis just answered just that after delivering a jaw-dropping performance at the Stockholm Diamond League on Sunday, 15 June.
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Duplantis soared to a new pole vault world record of 6.28 meters, his 12th in his career.
However, behind the magic was a surprising light-hearted deal with sprint icon Usain Bolt.
The two-time Olympic champion revealed that a pre-event chat with Bolt served as the much-needed motivation for his world record.
He revealed that the Jamaican sprint legend had promised him a night out if he could raise the bar.
"For me, it is pretty cool. He said if I break the world record, we can party. So I was sure it was going to be a fun night with him, but I’m just so happy,” Duplantis told Swedish broadcaster SVT.
Bolt, who was fresh from a Diamond League meeting in Oslo on Thursday, 12 June, made his way to Stockholm for the weekend, keen on enjoying the city’s nightlife.
Duplantis, meanwhile, had his sights set on making history at the historic Stockholm Stadion, in front of a home crowd and with his entire family watching.
“This was one of my biggest goals and dreams, to set a world record here at Stadion. It is like the Olympics and the stadium. They are at the same level for me,” he said.
The moment was not as effortless as some of his previous record-breaking jumps.
The 25-year-old admitted his legs did not feel great, and the early warm-up jumps were shaky.
But on his first attempt at 6.28m, the magic clicked. A perfect plant, a powerful rise, and an ecstatic crowd saw history unfold.
“It did not feel that natural from the beginning... but I only needed one,” he said.
Behind him, Australia’s Kurtis Marschall came closest, clearing 5.90m.
Duplantis’ record continues an incredible streak that began when he first broke Renaud Lavillenie’s 6.17m world record in 2020. Since then, he’s pushed the limit 11 more times.
This one, though, felt extra special.
“They etch the names of world record holders here. It’s going to be special to have my name etched in the stadium. It will be one of the greatest memories for me, I think, in my career,” he concluded.
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