Duplantis Seeks Third Consecutive Pole Vault World Title in Tokyo

Pole vault sensation Mondo Duplantis is aiming to break more records at the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo, targeting a 6.30-meter leap following his recent world record of 6.29 meters. A key factor in his dominance is his exceptional runway speed, enhanced by specially-developed sprinting spikes designed in close collaboration with Puma to improve grip and energy transfer. Duplantis's approach involves taking 20 steps with sprint-like spikes modified for pole vaulting, setting him apart from predecessors who used flatter spikes. His speed advantage is evident, as only a few competitors, such as Emmanouil Karalis and Chris Nilsen, have cleared six meters this season. Duplantis, who was raised in the U.S. but represents Sweden, continues to innovate shoe technology, which he credits as crucial to his performance. Fans can look for the special "claw" version of his spikes when he is attempting world records, underscoring his focus on speed as the decisive element in achieving his record-breaking heights.