Tokyo: Mondo Duplantis has delivered another historic performance at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, clearing 6.30m to set his 14th pole vault world record and secure his eighth consecutive global title.
The Swedish star, now 25, brought out his distinctive ‘Claw’ shoes, special footwear with a spike protruding from the front, resembling a medieval tool. Once the bar was raised to six metres, a clear signal that he was targeting history.
The competition, which had lasted two hours and 20 minutes by that stage, saw Duplantis clear 6m, 6.10m, and 6.15m with ease, clinching the world title and a $70,000 (£51,000) prize. He then set his sights on 6.30m for a new world record.
In case you missed it 👀
6.30m 🤝 @mondohoss600 #WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/BCIJQQ1V0X
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) September 15, 2025
The ‘Claw’ shoes, designed by Puma, allow him to accelerate more quickly in Duplantis’ 20-step run-up, plant the pole faster, and vault higher, though the original 2024 version had a dangerously sharp metal spike that risked cutting his hand or arm. Puma’s vice-president of innovation, Romain Girard, explained that the latest version uses a rubber shell to protect him while still enhancing performance.
“Whenever I think I have a chance to break world records, I do bring out the Claw. When it comes out, you know it’s business time,” Duplantis said.
His first attempt at 6.30m failed narrowly, while his second saw the bar wobble and fall just after he passed it. By then, the remaining competitors, including Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis, who secured silver at 6m, were urging him on, with Karalis even cooling him with an electric fan between jumps.
Switching to a stiffer pole for more lift, Duplantis soared over 6.30m on his third try. The crowd of 60,000 erupted in one of the most dramatic moments in the 42-year history of the championships. After landing, he hugged his fellow vaulters, sprinted around the track punching the air, kissed his fiancée Desiré Inglander, and saluted the fans.
“I am just so happy. I wanted to come back to Tokyo because I knew it was a wonderful city. But it’s better than I ever imagined. This is the biggest dream ever to come true for me,” Duplantis added. Alongside the gold medal, the vaulter also earned a $100,000 bonus for breaking the record.
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