Diamond League: Armand Duplantis Enters 'Five-Title' Club In Zurich

Last Updated:August 27, 2025, 23:48 IST

Duplantis edged out Emmanouil Karalis on countback to a win at the Diamond League in Zurich on Wednesday with his effort of 6m on the day.

Armand Duplantis. (X)

Pole Vault icon Armand Duplantis coasted his way to a win at the Diamond League in Zurich on Wednesday as he pipped Greek rival Emmanouil Karalis to seal the deal with an effort of 6m.

Duplantis, who recently set his 13th world record by clearing 6.29m in Budapest earlier this month, participated in one of six field disciplines at Zurich’s Sechselautenplatz, located directly in front of the city’s iconic opera house.

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“It was really cool, really amazing, I loved the atmosphere," said Duplantis.

“I’ve never done a street meet here. Compared to the stadium, it’s kind of the same but different. I like it, I think it’s super cool to be up and close to everybody."

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The US-born Swede referred to the pole vault as a “beautiful circus act," and the street atmosphere certainly contributed to a visceral ambiance that made the temporary stands shake with stomping feet and raucous, choreographed cheers.

The field of six competitors quickly diminished, with American Sam Hendricks, Dutchman Menno Vloon, Australian Kurtis Marschall, and French veteran Renaud Lavillenie all eliminated. Only Duplantis and Karalis managed to clear 5.90m as the bar was raised to 6.0m.

Karalis failed his first attempt at the new height, but Duplantis succeeded. After a second failure, the pressure mounted on the Greek athlete.

In front of a lively crowd of 5,000, with ‘Zorba’s Dance’ playing loudly over the tannoy, Karalis cleared the bar, ensuring the competition continued. The bar was then raised to 6.10m, but both athletes found this height insurmountable, with Duplantis winning on countback.

Australian Nicola Olyslagers edged Ukraine’s Olympic champion and world record holder Yaroslava Mahuchikh in the women’s high jump. Olyslagers was the first to clear 2.02m, with Mahuchikh failing twice and skipping a third attempt.

Olyslagers then cleared 2.04m, prompting Mahuchikh to raise the bar to 2.06m. Olyslagers failed three times at this height, leaving Mahuchikh with one final attempt to snatch the win. She clipped the bar and finished second behind Olyslagers.

Britain’s Morgan Lake set a national record of 2.00m for third place, determined on countback from Ukraine’s Yuliia Levchenko.

There was home delight as decathlete Simon Ehammer, a 2022 world long jump bronze medallist, achieved a jump of 8.32m for victory. Italian Mattia Furlani took second place, just 2cm shy of Ehammer’s mark, with Australian Liam Adcock rounding out the podium with an 8.24m jump.

The women’s pole vault, rescheduled as a city event due to predicted stormy weather on Thursday, was won by Katie Moon, the American achieving a best of 4.82m.

In a US podium cleansweep, Sandi Morris and Emily Grove finished second and third, both clearing 4.75m.

Two-time world champion Joe Kovacs, who missed the cut at the US trials and won’t be heading to the Tokyo worlds, secured victory in the men’s shot put with a 22.46m effort on his fifth attempt. The American finished well ahead of compatriot Payton Otterdahl (22.07m) and Jamaica’s Rajindra Campbell (21.87m).

“We absolutely love coming here for this street competition. There’s no better atmosphere," said Kovacs, who wished his US teammates well in Tokyo. “I’m just happy coming out here and throwing a season’s best."

Canada’s Sarah Mitton claimed the women’s shot put trophy with a best of 20.67m, finishing ahead of the Netherlands’ Jessica Schilder (20.26m) and American Chase Jackson (20.08m).

The remaining 26 Diamond League champions will be crowned during a bumper programme at Zurich’s Letzigrund Stadium on Thursday.

(With Inputs From AFP)

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Location :

Switzerland

First Published:

August 27, 2025, 23:48 IST

News sports Diamond League: Armand Duplantis Enters 'Five-Title' Club In Zurich

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