By Armand “Mondo” Duplantis, the world of pole vaulting has a towering figure who continually raises the bar — quite literally. On August 12, 2025, at the Istvan Gyulai Memorial during the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest, the 25-year-old Swedish sensation cleared 6.29 meters, breaking his own world record for the 13th time.
The Jump: A Moment of Triumph
Duplantis’s record-breaking run wasn’t without its drama. After missing his first attempt at 6.11m, he regrouped and, on his second attempt, soared past 6.29m, leaving him in near disbelief and prompting a wave of cheers from the crowd.
Post-victory, he celebrated intimately with his partner, Desire Inglander, and his family—emphasizing the emotional resonance of the moment. In a touching tweet picked up by the media, Inglander shared her reaction: “My fiancé just broke the world record by 1 cm. 6.29 m!”.
The Signature Strategy: 1 cm Increments
A uniquely strategic element of Duplantis’s record-chasing is his consistent use of 1 cm increments for each new world record—a tradition he’s maintained since first breaking the record in February 2020 with a 6.17m vault.
Here’s why:
- World Athletics awards a $100,000 bonus per world record, but only once per competition.
- By increasing the bar just 1 cm, Duplantis maximizes his chances to collect the bonus repeatedly across different meets, plus additional incentives from sponsors like Puma and Red Bul.
- This approach has reportedly netted him over £1 million in record bonuses alone.
This strategy echoes the careful progression of legends like Sergey Bubka and Yelena Isinbayeva, who also incrementally raised their own records to sustain success—and earnings.
Chasing Legends: Bubka and Beyond
With his 13th improvement, Duplantis has now matched the number of times Sergey Bubka raised the record in his career, solidifying his legendary status in the discipline. But Duplantis isn’t stopping there. Global speculation suggests he could vault as high as 6.40m in the future—a height some insiders believe is within reach.
Championship Run & What’s Next
2025 has been monumental for Duplantis. So far this year alone, he has broken the world record three times, including the recent 6.29m jump.
Next on his calendar:
- He is set to compete in the Silesia Diamond League in Poland—a venue where he previously set a world record.
- Looking ahead, Duplantis is also poised to defend his world title at the Tokyo World Athletics Championships next month.
- Additionally, he’s been named a “Star Athlete” and ambassador for the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship, set to debut in Budapest in 2026, featuring a record-setting prize pool of $10 million.
Summary Table: Duplantis’s Record Timeline (2020–2025)
| Year | Record Height | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 6.17m | First world record break |
| … | Incremental | Raised by 1 cm each time |
| June 2025 | 6.28m | Stockholm Diamond League |
| Aug 12 2025 | 6.29m | 13th world record, Budapest |
Final Thoughts
Armand Duplantis isn’t just vaulting over bars; he’s rewriting how athletes can excel in both sport and strategy. Balancing peak performance with calculated progression, he’s mastered both athletic and financial gravity. As he continues to soar—literally—fans worldwide watch with anticipation over just how high he’ll go next.
