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240602 Armand Duplantis of Sweden competes in men's pole vault during Bauhaus-galan, part of the Diamond League series on June 2, 2024 in Stockholm. Photo: Joel Marklund / BILDBYRÅN / kod JM / JZ0530
Stockholm

Duplantis Returns Home with One Dream Left: A World Record in Stockholm

There are few venues in world athletics that mean as much to Armand “Mondo” Duplantis as Stockholm’s Olympic Stadium.

On Sunday evening at the BAUHAUS-galan Diamond League meeting, the reigning Olympic champion, world champion, and world record holder will once again take flight on home soil—but this time, with one mission left unfulfilled.

“I’m pretty excited,” Duplantis said ahead of the event. “Of course, I would say it’s like a mini championship for me. It feels like that kind of pressure that I put on myself—it means that much. You really have to defend the ground.”

For Duplantis, who was born in the USa but represents Sweden through his mother, Stockholm is not just another meet on the circuit. It’s the one place he’s still longing to make history in the most spectacular way possible.

“My biggest dream now—I feel like the only thing I’m missing—is to break the record here at Stockholm Stadium,” he said. “It’s kind of a thing I can’t get off my mind.”

He’s come close before. Duplantis has already scaled dizzying heights all around the world, including his most recent world record of 6.27m set earlier this year in Clermont-Ferrand, which was the 11th time he has broken the world record. But despite multiple victories on Swedish soil, he’s yet to set a world record in front of a home crowd.

That, he says, adds another layer to an already emotional experience.

“I have a lot of my family here—pretty much all of my family from both sides. So that raises the pressure quite a bit,” Duplantis admitted. “In track and field, you don’t really get that type of home field advantage that much. But here, I’m able to really feel that—and it comes with added pressure. But I think it’s super nice too, because it feels like I’m representing something a little bit bigger than just me when I’m on the track.”

Stockholm could hardly offer a better stage: warm conditions, a sold-out stadium, and a strong field that includes close friend and rival Emmanouil Karalis of Greece. The pair shared the runway earlier this week in Oslo, where Duplantis made some “really nice jumps” and Karalis, who won Olympic bronze in Paris last year, is hoping to build on his breakout season.

“I think as a Greek, going to the Olympics is already a big thing,” said Karalis. “Getting a medal—it changed my life. It’s been a blessing. Now I want to win more medals. I want to be the best version of myself. And yeah, see how far I can go—as an athlete and as a person.”

Karalis, known for his warm demeanor and camaraderie, is looking forward to sharing the stage with Duplantis again, even as the Swede prepares for one of the most emotionally charged competitions of his career.

“I try to be a bit social during the competition,” Karalis said. “I talk, try to get the nerves out. Of course, I’m thinking about myself—but I’m also trying to enjoy it. Tomorrow is going to be a great show.”

For Duplantis, it will be more than a show—it will be a chance to etch his name even deeper into the history books, this time in front of the crowd that matters most.

“I’ve visualized the moment,” he said. “I’ve played it out in my head a lot of times. Enough times, maybe, that one of these days—hopefully tomorrow—it comes true.” If the conditions align and the bar goes up, it won’t just be a Swedish summer night—it might be an unforgettable chapter in Swedish sporting history.

Where to watch Stockholm 2025

The 2025 Wanda Diamond League season continues in Stockholm on Sunday, June 15.

The action begins at 17:14 local time (GMT/UTC+2) with the women’s high jump and the main two-hour programme and global broadcast starts at 18:00 local time with the women’s 400m hurdles.

For information on where to watch in your territory, select the country you are in from the dropdown menu.

The list is subject to change. Please consult local TV schedules for definitive information.