World stunned by star’s crazy gold medal photo in Tokyo

A staggering moment from the men’s pole vault at the Olympics is dropping jaws as one star absolutely destroyed his competition.

Armand Duplantis was in a league of his own.

Armand Duplantis has destroyed the rest of the world in the men’s pole vault – and came within a whisker of setting a new world record.

After winning gold with an early jump of 6.02m, the Swedish star went devilishly close in two of his three attempts at beating his own world record of 6.18m.

Going for history with the bar at 6.19m, the American-born athlete scaled the bar with his first attempt at 6.19m and landed on the padding below, only to watch on as the bar fell more than a second after he had appeared to clear it.

Nobody else got anywhere near him.

A photo of his gold-medal winning clearance shows how astonishing his performance was.

Armand Duplantis was in a league of his own.

His first five jumps were all successful as he made his way above the 6m-mark and the competition fell away.

“It’s a surreal feeling, really, I still don’t know how to explain it,” Duplantis said.

“It’s something I’ve wanted for so long and now that it’s finally here, and I finally did it, it’s so crazy.

“Ever since I was a little kid I have loved this sport so much and I have always believed that it would take me to some great places, and the fact that I’m actually here, I’m at the Olympics and being able to win it is fantastic.”

The world was left in awe and wanting more from the 21-year-old.

You know Mondo Duplantis is head and shoulders above the rest when other nations coaches want selfies with him #Tokyo2020#athletics

— Molly Hudson (@M0lly_Writes) August 3, 2021

Duplantis.

How DAAAAAMN did he jump over the mark??#Tokyo2020pic.twitter.com/1txbEHovL6

— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) August 3, 2021

Historic #Olympics Night For Sweden at #Tokyo2020;

21-year-old Mondo Duplantis cleared 6.02m in the men's pole vault final to win gold at the #OlympicGames

He scarily made 2 close attempts at what would have been a new world record 6.19m.#Athleticspic.twitter.com/IC4iece0Xm

— #Tokyo2020 (@alimo_philip) August 3, 2021

Originally published as World stunned by star’s crazy gold medal photo in Tokyo