Mondo Duplantis rewrote the history books once again on Monday when he broke the pole vault world record for the ninth time in his career at the Olympic Games in Paris.
The Swedish superstar jumped 6.25m at the Stade de France, adding another centimetre to the previous record of 6.24m which he set at the Wanda Diamond League season opener in Xiamen back in April.
"What can I say? I just broke a world record at the Olympics, the biggest possible stage for a pole vaulter. My biggest dream since a kid was to break the world record at the Olympics, and I’ve been able to do that in front of the most ridiculous crowd I’ve ever competed in front of," he said.
The 24-year-old has now broken the world record three times in the last year alone, and many will feel it is only a matter of time before he hits the next height of 6.26m. So what's next for the Swede now his Olympic dream has come true?
Duplantis is expected to return to Diamond League action later this month in Lausanne, where he is scheduled to take on the likes of Chris Nilsen and Olympic silver medallist Sam Kendricks at the Athletissima City Event on August 21st.
It will be a fifth Diamond League appearance of the season for the Swede, who has already qualified for the final thanks to victories in Xiamen, Suzhou, Stockholm and Paris.
After a final opportunity to strut his stuff at the Silesia Diamond League on August 25th, Duplantis will then have the chance to defend his Wanda Diamond League title at the series final in Brussels on September 13-14th.
With three Diamond Trophies so far, Duplantis is already one of the most decorated athletes in Diamond League history. A fourth successive final win in Belgium would see him take another step towards fellow pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie's record of seven titles.
Duplantis was not the only Diamond League champion to enjoy Olympic glory this week. Bahrain's Winfred Yavi won gold in the women's 3000m steeplechase, Britain's Keely Hodgkinson triumphed in the women's 800m and the USA's Valarie Allman came out on top in the discus.
