Sweden's pole vault star Armand Duplantis improved his own world record by one centimeter as China's Gong Lijiao took the women's shot put victory at the opening meeting of the 2024 Diamond League here in Xiamen on Saturday, reported Xinhua.
24-year-old Duplantis needed only three attempts to secure his title, clearing 5.62-meter, 5.82m and 6.00m with a clean sheet. The bar was then raised to 6.24m, one centimeter over his own world record set last September at the 2023 Diamond League final in Eugene, the United States. The world and Olympic champion duly soared over the bar once again at his first attempt.
"This is my first time in China and it's exciting to get my [outdoor] season going," said Duplantis, who retained his world indoor title in Glasgow, UK, last month at 6.05m.
"I went into the competition with high expectations. And I knew that I could jump high, but there are so many things that have to be perfect and come together in the right way for that to actually happen. And everything was there today," he said.
"It's an amazing track and the weather was what it needs to be. Energy in the crowd was great. Everything was there for me. It was just up to me to go jump and I was able to do that. I'm honestly very, very excited about that."
Sam Kendricks of the United States cleared 5.82m to finish second and Huang Bokai of China registered a season's best of 5.72m to take third place.
It was the eighth time for Duplantis to renew the world record. He first managed the feat in February 2020, when he set 6.17m in Torun, Poland.
China's Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion Gong Lijiao also lit up the crowd with a victory in a reunion of the top-three finishers at last year's World Championships.
35-year-old Gong achieved a season's best of 19.72m on her second attempt to take the leading position and bowed out with a 19.61m to wrap up the victory.
New Zealand's Maddison-Lee Wesche hurled a personal best of 19.63m to edge past American world champion Chase Jackson, who finished third with 19.62m. Canada's Sarah Mitton, runner-up at the 2023 worlds, finished fourth with 19.35m.
"I am happy to win but not satisfied with the result. It's my first outdoor competition and I expected to throw over 20m to boost my confidence," Gong said. "But the field is very strong today. I think winning the competition can also help to build my confidence."
Another local favorite Feng Bin failed to defend her title in women's discus, settling for third place with 67.07m. America's Olympic champion Valarie Allman took gold with 69.80m from her fifth round effort.
Yaime Perez of Cuba, who had thrown 73.09m last week – the best mark ever registered in the event since 1990 – hurled 68.83m in the opening round to finish second.
Elsewhere, American ser Christian Coleman clocked 10.13s to win the men's 100m, while Pedro Pichardo of Portugal leaped 17.51 to take the men's triple jump victory.
Women's 5,000m world record holder Gudaf Tsegay led an all-Ethiopian podium finish in the 1,500m race, passing the line with a world-leading and personal best mark of 3:50.30.
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
“I am so impressed by Duplantis’ outstanding performance! Setting a new world record is no easy feat, and he did it with such finesse. It’s amazing to see athletes continuously pushing their boundaries and achieving greatness.”
Was Armand Duplantis expecting to break his own world record at the Xiamen Diamond League, or did it come as a surprise to him?
Armand Duplantis seemed confident and ready to break his own world record at the Xiamen Diamond League. He mentioned, “I went into the competition with high expectations. And I knew that I could jump high, but there are so many things that have to be perfect and come together in the right way for that to actually happen. And everything was there today.” It was a remarkable achievement for him!
Did Duplantis face any challenges during the world record-setting jumps in Xiamen?
Yes, Emma92, Duplantis mentioned that although he went into the competition with high expectations, there are many elements that need to align perfectly for a successful jump. He expressed that everything came together perfectly during the event, from the track conditions to the crowd energy. It was a combination of factors that allowed him to achieve a record-breaking performance in Xiamen.
As a fan of pole vault, I am truly impressed by Duplantis’ remarkable performance at the Xiamen Diamond League event. His determination and skill shone through as he broke his own world record with such ease. It’s exciting to witness such talent in action, and I look forward to seeing more incredible achievements from him in the future.
Do you think Duplantis will be able to break his own record again in the next competition?
It’s certainly possible that Duplantis could surpass his current record once more in the upcoming competition. His exceptional performance in Xiamen demonstrates his capability to push boundaries and achieve new heights. Let’s stay tuned for his next vaulting endeavors!
It’s incredible to see Duplantis crush his own world record in pole vault! Such an impressive performance by the talented athlete. Congratulations on the well-deserved victory!
Duplantis absolutely crushed the world record with his incredible pole vault performance! It is truly inspiring to witness such skill and determination in athletes. His success in China was well-deserved and I’m excited to see what he will achieve next in his career.
Wow, I wonder how Armand Duplantis manages to consistently break his own records! What an incredible feat!
As a pole vault enthusiast, I was ecstatic to witness Armand Duplantis’ incredible performance at the Xiamen Diamond League. His determination and skill are truly inspiring. It’s fascinating to see how he effortlessly cleared the bar and broke the world record. Such moments remind us why we love sports!