Swedish pole vaulter Armand “Mondo” Duplantis made headlines at the Paris 2024 Olympics by not only winning a gold medal but also breaking the world record with a stunning 6.25-meter jump. Competing against the US’ Sam Kendricks and Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis, Duplantis initially took the lead by clearing a 6.00-meter bar, with Kendricks and Karalis securing silver and bronze respectively. The audience at Stade de France erupted as Duplantis continued to raise the bar, ultimately setting a new world record.
Following his record-breaking jump, Duplantis celebrated exuberantly, rushing to his girlfriend in the crowd for a kiss before being embraced by his teammates. A video shared on social media captured an intense moment where Duplantis and another individual wearing a Sweden top engaged in what appeared to be a chest-punching celebration, which some viewers found excessive. One Twitter user remarked, “He looked ticked off after the 2nd or 3rd punch. Overkill after a tremendous win! Whyyyy???” Another added, “What in the Fight Club?”
mondo duplantis and his teammate roaring and punching each other in the chest after breaking the pole vaulting world record ? pic.twitter.com/WWbc7FsEnF
— good engrams (@BenatarSeaOrg) August 5, 2024
Video: @BenatarSeaOrg/X
It was later revealed that the person on the receiving end of Duplantis’ punches was his brother, LSU baseball player Antoine Duplantis. Understanding this sibling dynamic, many fans defended the celebration, with one user stating, “Brothers gonna brother.” The intense celebration was seen by others as a testament to the emotional high of achieving such a monumental feat.
Reflecting on his historic win, Duplantis expressed his disbelief and joy, saying, “I haven’t processed how fantastic that moment was. It’s one of those things that don’t really feel real, such an out-of-body experience. It’s still hard to kind of land right now. 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.”
Duplantis’ record-breaking performance and subsequent celebration have sparked a mix of admiration and controversy, but there is no denying the significance of his achievement. As the discussions continue online, Duplantis’ feat stands as a remarkable highlight of the Paris 2024 Olympics, showcasing the heights of human athleticism and the powerful emotions that accompany such victories.
