Armand “Mondo” Duplantis Sets New World Record in Pole Vault
- Performance and Record: Armand “Mondo” Duplantis captivated the Stade de France, clearing 6.25 meters (20 feet 6 inches) to set a new world record.
- Challenges: After failing his first two attempts, he consulted with his father and coach, Greg, and made a crucial adjustment.
- Celebration: The crowd erupted in celebration as Duplantis embraced his family and friends.
- Background: Born in Louisiana and representing Sweden, Duplantis has a history of breaking records and inching up heights to maximize sponsorship bonuses.
- Silver Medalist: Sam Kendricks of the USA won silver with a clearance of 5.95 meters, acknowledging Duplantis’s dominance.
- Technique: Duplantis’s strategic adjustment of the standards and crowd support contributed to his success.
- Future Aspirations: While celebrating his current achievement, Duplantis continues to push the limits of what’s possible in pole vaulting.
Quincy Hall’s Stunning Comeback Wins Men’s 400m Gold
- Race Dynamics: Quincy Hall came from behind in the final stretch to win the Olympic 400 meters final.
- Final Moments: Hall overtook Kirani James, Jereem Richards, and Matthew Hudson-Smith in the last 50 meters to finish first.
- Winning Time: Hall set a personal-best time of 43.40 seconds, becoming the fourth fastest in history.
- Background: Hall’s journey included working two jobs while attending College of Sequoias and training often alone.
- Training Shift: He switched from the 400 hurdles to the open 400 meters two years ago, a decision he called the “best of my life.”
- Race Strategy: Hall’s endurance and finishing kick proved decisive against Hudson-Smith, who acknowledged Hall’s late charge.
- Significance: Hall’s win is a testament to his determination and hard work, cementing his place among the world’s best quarter-milers.
Mykolas Alekna Breaks His Father’s Olympic Record – and Settles for Silver
- Performance: Mykolas Alekna of Lithuania set a new Olympic record with a 69.97-meter throw, surpassing his father’s record.
- Competition: Jamaica’s Rojé Stona then threw 70 meters, pushing Alekna to second place.
- Attempts: Despite attempts to reclaim the top spot, Alekna settled for silver.
- Future Prospects: Alekna is expected to be a strong contender for gold in the next Olympics.
Aussie Tops American in a Battle of the World’s Best in Pole Vault
- Competitors: The women’s pole vault final came down to Australia’s Nina Kennedy and America’s Katie Moon.
- Performance: Kennedy cleared 4.90 meters on her first attempt, while Moon failed and moved to 4.95 meters.
- Outcome: Moon’s gamble did not pay off, securing Kennedy the gold and making her Australia’s first-ever women’s pole vault champion.
- Celebration: Kennedy celebrated with her family and team, acknowledging the hard work that led to her victory.
Three Americans Set for Men’s 200-Meter Race
- Qualifiers: Noah Lyles, Erriyon Knighton, and Kenneth Bednarek qualified for the final.
- Event Timing: The final race is scheduled for Thursday.
Moroccan Charges in the Final Lap of 3,000m Steeplechase to Win Over American
- Winner: Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco defended his gold medal in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
- Final Stretch: El Bakkali overtook American Kenneth Rooks in the final stretch to secure victory.
- Celebration: El Bakkali celebrated with fans long after the race ended, enjoying the sweet victory.
Armand “Mondo” Duplantis, a pole vaulting prodigy from Louisiana, captivated the Stade de France with his exceptional performance at the Paris Olympics. Known for his remarkable skill and consistent record-breaking, Duplantis sought to surpass his own world record of 6.24 meters (20 feet 5¾ inches).
After failing his first two attempts, Duplantis consulted with his father and coach, Greg, and made a crucial adjustment. On his final try, he cleared 6.25 meters (20 feet 6 inches), setting a new world record. The crowd erupted in celebration as Duplantis sprinted to embrace his family and friends.
Born in Louisiana and representing Sweden, Duplantis has a history of steadily breaking records, inching up the heights to maximize sponsorship bonuses. His latest feat solidified his status as a top performer, content with his current achievement, but always pushing the limits of what’s possible.
Sam Kendricks, an American pole vaulter, won the silver medal with a clearance of 5.95 meters, after overcoming past setbacks from the Tokyo Olympics. Despite past victories over Duplantis, Kendricks acknowledged the younger athlete’s rise to dominance.
Duplantis’s journey to the world record included a strategic adjustment of the standards, moving them closer for optimal performance. His final jump, fueled by the crowd’s rhythmic clapping, showcased his speed and precision. With this new record, Duplantis continues to inspire, focusing momentarily on his achievement before contemplating future possibilities.
Quincy Hall’s Stunning Comeback Wins Men’s 400m Gold
Quincy Hall delivered a spectacular performance to win the Olympic 400 meters final, coming from behind to claim gold. Starting in fourth place with 50 meters to go, Hall overtook former champion Kirani James, then Jereem Richards, and finally passed pre-race favorite Matthew Hudson-Smith of Great Britain with just 10 meters left. Hall’s winning time was a personal-best 43.40 seconds, making him the fourth fastest in history.
Hall’s journey to this moment has been marked by perseverance. He attended College of Sequoias, a community college in California, where he worked two jobs to support himself. As a professional, Hall trained often alone, with his coach Curtis Allen giving instructions by phone. Initially focusing on the 400 hurdles, Hall switched to the open 400 meters two years ago, a decision he called the “best of my life.”
In the final, Hall’s resilience and endurance, honed by years of running multiple events, proved decisive. Despite Hudson-Smith’s early lead, Hall’s renowned finishing kick secured his victory. Hudson-Smith, who finished second, admitted he was surprised by Hall’s late charge.
Hall’s win is a testament to his determination and hard work, proving his place among the world’s best quarter-milers.
Quincy Hall’s Stunning Charge in the 400 Meters
In an open 400-meter race at the Paris Olympics, American Quincy Hall emerged as the favorite after breezy performances in the qualifiers. Running out of lane eight, Hall seemed likely to challenge for a new world record. While he didn’t set a new record, he did deliver an incredible comeback to win the gold.
With a massive roar from the Stade de France crowd of 80,000, Hall started the race but trailed for most of it. Coming around the final curve, he was in sixth place. However, he made his move in the final straightaway, sprinting past the other runners with determination. In the final meters, Hall overtook Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith by just 0.04 seconds, securing the gold.
Hall’s winning time was a personal best, and his victory was celebrated with cheers from the crowd. He took a shoeless victory lap around the track, holding the American flag.
Hall reflected on his journey, mentioning the hard work and determination that got him to this point. “I don’t give up. I just grit, I grind. I’ve got determination,” he said. “For the next four years, I can say I’m an Olympic champion.”
Mykolas Alekna Breaks His Father’s Olympic Record – and Settles for Silver
Mykolas Alekna of Lithuania, the top-ranked discus thrower in the world, aimed to break the Olympic record set by his father in 2004. On his second throw, Alekna achieved this with a 69.97-meter throw. However, Jamaica’s Rojé Stona threw 70 meters shortly after, pushing Alekna to second place.
Despite attempts to reclaim the top spot, Alekna had to settle for silver. He is expected to be a strong contender for gold in the next Olympics.
Aussie Tops American in a Battle of the World’s Best in Pole Vault
In the women’s pole vault final, Australia’s Nina Kennedy and America’s Katie Moon faced off. Kennedy cleared the 4.90-meter bar on her first attempt, while Moon failed and chose to move to 4.95 meters. Moon’s gamble didn’t pay off, and Kennedy secured the gold, becoming Australia’s first-ever women’s pole vault champion.
Kennedy celebrated with her family and team, reflecting on the hard work that led to her victory.
Three Americans Set for Men’s 200-Meter Race
In the men’s 200-meter semifinals, three Americans qualified for the final: Noah Lyles, Erriyon Knighton, and Kenneth Bednarek. The final race will take place on Thursday.
Moroccan Charges in the Final Lap of 3,000m Steeplechase to Win Over American
Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco defended his gold medal in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, overtaking American Kenneth Rooks in the final stretch. Rooks made a strong move in the last lap but finished second after El Bakkali’s surge. The Moroccan celebrated his victory with fans long after the race ended.