Duplantis impresses despite falling short of his world record at Stockholm’s Diamond League

STOCKHOLM: Sweden’s pole vault sensation, Armand Duplantis, captivated the home crowd at Stockholm’s Olympic Stadium during the Diamond League meet on Sunday, showcasing his extraordinary talent and determination just ahead of the Paris Olympics.
The Olympic and world champion, who set a new world record of 6.24 meters in April, effortlessly secured victory with his first attempt at 6.00 meters. Buoyed by the support of the enthusiastic Swedish audience, Duplantis then set his sights on breaking his own world record by attempting to clear 6.25 meters.
Despite his best efforts and coming tantalizingly close, Duplantis was unable to surpass the mark in his three attempts. Nevertheless, his performance was a clear demonstration of his exceptional ability and promise as he prepares for the upcoming Olympic Games. American pole vaulter and two-time world champion Sam Kendricks claimed second place with a vault of 5.90 meters.
In other events, Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma set the fastest time in the world this season for the men’s 3,000 meters steeplechase, finishing in 8:01.63. His compatriot, Samuel Firewu, achieved a personal best of 8:05.78 to take second place.
The meet also saw a victorious return for Dutch world champion Femke Bol, who dominated the women’s 400 meters hurdles. In her first outdoor race of the year, Bol clocked a winning time of 53.07 seconds, reaffirming her status as a top contender in her discipline.