In a dramatic competition that stunned fans at home, Duplantis—widely regarded as the greatest pole vaulter of his generation—was unable to defend his dominance despite opening solidly in the event.
He cleared 5.80m, but then struggled at the crucial higher heights, failing to clear 6.00m twice and also missing his attempt at 6.05m. Those missed attempts ultimately proved costly as rivals capitalized on the rare off-day from the world record holder.
The result means Duplantis’ incredible run of unbeaten competitions—stretching across multiple seasons—has finally come to an end, with Stockholm delivering a surprise twist in front of a home crowd that expected yet another victory.
The defeat is especially significant given his long-standing dominance in the sport, where he has repeatedly pushed world records beyond the 6-metre mark and set a standard few athletes have come close to matching.
Despite the setback, Duplantis remains one of the most dominant figures in athletics, and this result is likely to add even more intrigue heading into the rest of the season as rivals sense a rare opportunity.
Summary of key facts:
• Duplantis cleared 5.80m
• Failed twice at 6.00m
• Failed at 6.05m
• 40-meet winning streak ended
• First defeat since 2023
This unexpected result in Stockholm will be remembered as one of the most surprising moments in recent pole vault history.