Sweden's Duplantis breaks own pole vault world record with 6.22 meters

Swedish athlete Armand Duplantis, left, celebrates his new pole vault world record (6.22m) during the men's pole vault event at the International indoor athletics meeting All Star Perche at the Sports House, in Clermont-Ferrand, central France, on Feb. 25. AFP-Yonhap

Sweden's Armand Duplantis broke his own pole vault world record on Saturday, clearing 6.22 meters to add one centimeter to his previous mark at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Silver meeting in Clermont-Ferrand, France.

After knocking the bar in his first two attempts at the height, the 23-year-old Olympic champion cleared the mark with room to spare on the third try, letting out a cheer as the crowd went into a frenzy of celebration.

He had barely touched the mat before a spray of sparklers went off and meet director Renaud Lavillenie, the Olympic champion in 2012, ran to embrace him.

Duplantis had the competition won already when he cleared 6.01 meters on the first try, as Australian Kurtis Marschall finished second with a 5.91 meters leap while the Netherlands' Menno Vloon took third.

Duplantis set the previous record on his way to winning gold at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, in July.

Saturday's effort marks the sixth world record of his career and the 60th time the Swede has cleared six meters or higher, after enjoying his best-ever season debut with a 6.10 meters win to cheer the home fans in Uppsala earlier this month. (Reuters)

Swedish athlete Armand Duplantis poses for a photograph as he celebrates after setting a new pole vault world record (6.22m) during the men's paul volt event at the International indoor athletics meeting All Star Perche at the Sports House, in Clermont-Ferrand, central France, Feb. 25. AFP-Yonhap