Armando Duplantis breaks own pole vault world record of 6.18m

Olympic champion Armand Duplantis improved his own pole vault world record by clearing 6.19m at the World Athletics Indoor Tour event in Belgrade, Serbia.

Duplantis had set the record of 6.18m in February 2020 indoors in Glasgow.

"I've tried 6.19 meters 50 times," the Swede said. 

"It's been a long time coming. I've never had a height that has given me that much trouble, so it's a very good feeling. It was really hard-fought over these past two years. I'm really happy."

With all of his opponents finished, Duplantis opened his series with 5.61, 5.85 and 6.00 all on his first tries.

At 6.19, he missed his first two attempts. On his third and final try, he nudged the bar slightly with his knees but it remained in place. He leapt up from the landing mat and punched the air in celebration.

He will return to the same Stark Arena in the Serbian capital this month for the world indoor championships starting on March 18.

Born in the United States, Duplantis—who goes by the nickname 'Mondo'—chose to represent his mother's native country of Sweden.

- With inputs from PTI