Australian pole vaulter Kurtis Marschall has pulled off a major upset, defeating world record holder Armand “Mondo” Duplantis at the Stockholm Diamond League meet.Â
Marschall handed Sweden’s two-time Olympic champion his first loss in more than 1,000 days when he cleared 5.90 metres to clinch victory.
Duplantis could only manage a successful clearance of 5.80m to place second, well short of his world record mark of 6.31m.
“I can’t believe it, I’m going to cherish this for my whole life,” said Marschall, a two-time world championships bronze medallist.
“They don’t come easy in this day and age.
“I jumped great in these conditions, I’m very happy, but I know Mondo isn’t going to let it happen in the future.
“This stadium wouldn’t be what it is without him, so to come here and to do it in front of this crowd, I’m cherishing every single moment.
“He’s one of the best competitors and one of the best blokes. I love him with all my heart.”
Armand Duplantis (right) speaks with Kurtis Marschall during the men’s pole vault competition. (Getty Images: David Lidstrom)
Duplantis, who has set the men’s pole vault record 15 times, had won 40 consecutive events.
“Big hats off to Kurtis today, he was the better man and he beat me fair and square,” Duplantis said.
“I have no excuses.”
Australian teammates Matthew Denny and Cameron Myers also recorded podium finishes in Stockholm.
Olympic bronze medallist Denny was second in the men’s discus with a best throw of 69.02m.
Sweden’s reigning world champion Daniel Stahl won with 69.60m.
“I felt there was more to give and maybe I got a bit greedy on the last couple of rounds trying to get that bigger distance,” Denny said.
“But it was a great competition and I’m really finding some good stuff that will be kind to me later in the season.”
Myers was also second in his event, the men’s 1,500m.
The Canberran stopped the clock in 3:30.32 to finish behind US Olympic bronze medallist Yared Nuguse (3:30.11).
“It’s not the outcome that I wanted but you have to play to how you feel on the day, and I didn’t feel great, which is frustrating,” Myers said.
By
