Pole Vault: Duplantis Loses in Stockholm – Marschall Wins with 5.90 Meters

Duplantis Struggles with His Own Performance

The defeat in Stockholm marks Duplantis' first loss in a home competition in nearly three years. Prior to this, he had last lost a pole vault competition in July 2023 in Monaco. Notably, it was at Stockholm's Olympic Stadium the previous year that he set a world record of 6.28 meters, which he has since improved to 6.31 meters.

The evening at Stockholm's Olympic Stadium proved disappointing for the German athletes. Long jumper Malaika Mihambo and shot putter Yemisi Mabry failed to reach the top positions. Kurtis Marschall, who had entered the competition as the world championship bronze medalist, seized the moment and celebrated one of the biggest successes of his career.

Werro Runs 1:53.98 Minutes in Stockholm

In addition to the men's pole vault, the Diamond League meeting also featured an outstanding women's 800-meter race. The 22-year-old Swiss athlete Audrey Werro won in 1:53.98 minutes, underlining her rising form. Her time is the third-fastest ever run over two laps on the track, and the first sub-1:54 by a woman in over 40 years.

Werro was just seven tenths of a second off the long-standing world record of Czechoslovakia's Jarmila Kratochvílová, which has stood at 1:53.28 minutes since 1983. Given recent developments in middle-distance running, it is considered an open question whether that record will fall in the foreseeable future. Werro herself had established herself as one of the strongest 800-meter runners in recent months.

Outlook on the European Championships in Birmingham

For Duplantis, the Stockholm defeat is an unusual setback, though one that is unlikely to carry much weight in the current season. The Swede, who has dominated major championships in recent years, can correct the misstep in the coming weeks. The question is how quickly he will rediscover his previous stability.

The season's highlight for the athletes is the European Championships in Birmingham from August 10 to 16. Until then, several Diamond League stops remain for the athletes to build form and confidence. For Duplantis, who has proven in the past that he returns stronger from setbacks, the loss to Marschall is above all a reminder that even the world record holder is not unbeatable.

Attention now turns to the upcoming competitions. That Duplantis has the class needed to put the defeat behind him quickly, he has demonstrated on several occasions in the past. Marschall, for his part, can entertain legitimate hopes after his triumph in Stockholm of having a say in the medals at the upcoming international highlights as well.