Ranzi Sports

The European Athletics Championships in Birmingham ended with a memorable evening of competition at Alexander Stadium on Sunday, 16 August. The final session brought together several major finals, but the men’s pole vault became the standout moment as Sweden’s Armand “Mondo” Duplantis once again confirmed his status as one of athletics’ biggest stars.

Duplantis entered the final as the clear favourite after qualifying with a first-time clearance of 5.60 metres. However, the competition was not without pressure. Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis challenged him throughout the evening, while the cool conditions and changing wind at Alexander Stadium made the event more difficult for the vaulters.

Duplantis eventually cleared 6.15 metres on his first attempt, setting a new European Championships record. The mark improved the previous championship record of 6.10 metres, which he had set in Rome in 2024. It also secured his fourth consecutive European outdoor pole vault title.

Karalis finished second with a clearance of 6.00 metres, while France’s Baptiste Thiery took the bronze medal after clearing 5.85 metres. The result gave Duplantis another major championship victory and added to an already remarkable list of achievements in the event.

The Swedish athlete then raised the bar further and made attempts at 6.20 metres. Although he could not clear that height, the crowd remained fully engaged as Duplantis continued to test the limits of the competition. His performance showed both his consistency and his ability to produce his best efforts on the biggest occasions.

Duplantis’ victory provided a fitting conclusion to the Birmingham championships. With a championship record, a fourth successive European title and another memorable performance under the lights, the pole vault final gave spectators a powerful final image from seven days of world-class athletics