Mondo Duplantis keeps raising the bar, literally and figuratively, and it seems like his hometown has followed suit. Swedish pole vaulter Armand Mondo Duplantis set the stage for this year’s Paris Olympics by shattering his own pole vault world record with a 6.24-meter leap during the first Diamond League event of the 2024 season last Saturday.
Surpassing his previous mark of 6.23 meters achieved at the Eugene Diamond League finale in September, Duplantis effortlessly cleared the bar and jubilantly celebrated his achievement at his inaugural outdoor competition of the year. This marked the eighth instance of Duplantis breaking the world record, and despite his remarkable feat, the 24-year-old believes he can achieve even greater heights.
Adding to the excitement, a recent tweet by “Chris Chavez” on April 23, 2024, garnered global attention. The tweet highlighted Duplantis’s latest accolade at the world’s largest Dala horse in Avesta, Sweden—his “second home.” The accompanying image showcased a plaque commemorating his new record, further solidifying his legacy in the sport.
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The world's largest Dala horse (dalahäst) is in Avesta, Sweden – which is Mondo Duplantis' mother's hometown.
In 2020, they put his pole vault height next to it for a height comparison/context. At the time, it was first set at 6.17m for his first world record (which he… pic.twitter.com/RDsMTp11bq
— Chris Chavez (@ChrisChavez) April 23, 2024
The post further talks about how, in 2020, his pole vault height was displayed alongside it for a height juxtaposition or context. Initially set at 6.17m for his first world record (which he improved a week later), they have raised it every time since as and when he upped his record. Now, following his latest world record performance in China over the weekend, it has been raised to 6.24m. Will this be a routine tradition for the urban planning system of Avesta? Symbolically so, maybe. But this often comes with a question: why would this city erect a landmark for Mondo in the first place? What is his connection to the city? Let’s find out.
Avesta’s connection to Duplantis, there’s more to the story than meets the eye
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Avesta, home to the world’s largest Dala horse, holds a special place in Duplantis’s heart. This charming behemoth wooden figurine, known as a Dalecarlian horse, originates from the Swedish province of Dalarna and symbolizes the region’s rich heritage. For Duplantis, Avesta carries sentimental value as his mother’s hometown and the starting point of his athletic journey with the local athletics club IK Stål.
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In 2022, Duplantis affectionately referred to Avesta as his “second home,” highlighting the strong connection he feels to the town. Now, in 2024, as Duplantis continues to soar to new heights, Avesta raises the bar once again, paying tribute to his remarkable achievements and celebrating his ongoing success on the global stage. It is just the start of Diamond League 2024. The world is eagerly waiting for the athletes to etch history and break records and it begets the question as to whether Avesta’s horse will be touching stratospheric heights or not, considering Duplantis’ track record.