Duplantis clears 6.21m as Karalis makes history in epic Lausanne pole vault duel
Mondo Duplantis cleared a meeting-record 6.21m to defeat Emmanouil Karalis in one of the greatest men’s pole vault competitions in history at the Lausanne Diamond League city event on Thursday evening.
Competing in front of more than 5,000 spectators at Place de la Navigation on the shores of Lake Geneva, Duplantis and Karalis became the first two men ever to clear 6.16m or higher in the same competition.
Both athletes were perfect through their opening four heights, clearing 5.51m, 5.81m, 5.91m and 6.01m on their first attempts.
Duplantis then raised the standard with a first-time clearance at 6.16m, surpassing the 6.15m meeting record he set at the same lakeside venue in 2024.
Karalis responded brilliantly. The Greek cleared 6.16m on his second attempt, recording the best outdoor mark of his career and finishing just one centimetre below his overall personal best.
Duplantis continued to 6.21m and once again sailed over at the first attempt, securing victory and extending his meeting record.
Rather than attempting 6.21m, Karalis passed directly to 6.26m. He recorded two misses before saving his final attempt, but was unable to clear the height and finished second.
With the victory secured, Duplantis had the bar raised to 6.32m—one centimetre above his own world record. The Swede made two unsuccessful attempts before retiring from the competition.
Behind the leading pair, Australia’s Kurtis Marschall took third place with a perfect record through 5.91m. Norway’s Sondre Guttormsen and American Chris Nilsen also cleared 5.91m but finished fourth and fifth respectively on countback.
Ernest John Obiena placed sixth at 5.81m, while Zachery Bradford and Sam Kendricks shared seventh with the same height. KC Lightfoot was ninth, also at 5.81m.
The historic pole vault contest served as the opening city event of the Lausanne Diamond League meeting, ahead of Friday’s main programme at the Stade Olympique de la Pontaise.
