Duplantis Sets Another World Record as Beamish Makes Kiwi History at World Athletics Championships
The world athletics championships once again took center stage in Tokyo, with Armand Duplantis dazzling the crowd while New Zealand’s Geordie Beamish etched his name in history. The atmosphere was electric as 53,000 fans witnessed remarkable feats, including Duplantis’s record-breaking pole vault and Beamish’s thrilling victory in the 3,000 meters steeplechase.
Duplantis, the Swedish pole vault sensation, retained his title with a jaw-dropping vault of 6.15 meters before setting a new world record for the 14th time, clearing an astounding 6.30 meters on his final attempt. The crowd erupted in cheers, remaining on their feet even after the vaulting had concluded. In a heartwarming moment, Duplantis shared a passionate kiss with his fiancée, Desire Inglander, before embracing his parents, a testament to his emotional victory.
While Duplantis shone brightly, Beamish provided a thrilling subplot. The 28-year-old Kiwi faced an uphill battle after a fall in the heats nearly derailed his chances. However, he rallied with a spectacular burst of speed to secure his place in the final. In a nail-biting finish, Beamish edged out two-time defending champion Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco by a mere fraction, clocking in at 8 minutes 33.88 seconds to El Bakkali’s 8:33.95. This victory marked a historic first for New Zealand, earning them their inaugural world track gold.
“This was a turn-up, wasn’t it? That was pretty unreal,” Beamish exclaimed, visibly elated. “I’m pretty stoked. I knew I had it in me tonight.”
The championships were not without surprises. Swiss hurdler Ditaji Kambundji delivered a stunning performance to claim her country’s first-ever medal in the 100m hurdles, leaving her in disbelief as she celebrated with her family in the stands. Meanwhile, Canada’s Olympic champion Camryn Rogers successfully defended her title in the women’s hammer throw, demonstrating her prowess with a powerful display.
In the men’s pole vault, Duplantis showcased his dominance, with Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis taking silver at 6.00 meters and Australia’s Kurtis Marschall claiming bronze with a personal best of 5.95 meters.
Reflecting on his record-breaking achievement, Duplantis said, “The only way to leave Japan was to set the world record. I was feeling really good the whole day. I knew I had the record in me.”
As the championships progressed, the men’s 1500 meters promised to be another highlight, with Britain poised to claim victory once again after US Olympic champion Cole Hocker was disqualified, leaving Scotland’s Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman to carry the torch for the defending champions.
