Mondo Duplantis of Sweden celebrates after winning the men's pole vault gold medal at the Euripean Athletics Championships in Munich, Germany, August 20, 2022. /CFP
Mondo Duplantis of Sweden won the men's pole vault gold medal at the European Athletics Championships in Munich, Germany on Saturday as he set a new record of 6.06 meters for the Championships.
Duplantis had first clearances in all five attempts and reached 6.06 meters in the fifth one before deciding not to vault for the sixth time. He also holds the world record of the event at 6.21 meters, which he reached at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon in July.
"I don't really keep track of that kind of stuff, but in these 19 competitions for the most part it was against the best guys in the world every time," 22-year-old Duplantis said after securing the 19th straight win. "I know that if I jump the way that I know I can and I'm capable of, then everything should work out okay."
Mondo Duplantis of Sweden competes in the men's pole vault final at the Euripean Athletics Championships in Munich, Germany, August 20, 2022. /CFP
"It was a great evening. Considering the situation and circumstances, I cannot complain. It was very special for me today. I was just focused on winning. I am just glad that everything worked out the way as it did tonight," he added. "I think this season, I have experienced all kinds of situations and these championships were very special to me. The crowd was very special, it is a special place here."
Bo Kanda Lita Baehre of Germany pocketed the silver with 5.85 meters. The bronze went to Pal Haugen Lillefosse with 5.75 meters.
Femke Bol of the Netherlands celebrates after winning the women's 4x400-meter race walk final at the European Athletics Championships in Munich, Germany, August 20, 2022. /CFP
There were highlights made in other events on Saturday. Femke Bol of the Netherlands secured her third gold at the Championships after winning the women's 4x400-meter relay final with Eveline Saalberg, Lieke Klaver and Lisanne de Witte. Bol had the 400-meter and 400-meter hurdles titles in the previous races.
Thirty-eight-year-old Greek veteran Antigoni Drisbioti continued to bear surprises. She won the women's 20-kilometer race walk gold at 1:29:03, which is her personal best (PB). It's the second title of Drisbioti who also won the 35-kilometer race walk final on Tuesday.
Alvaro Martin of Spain also set a new PB of 1:19:11 to win the gold in the men's 20-kilometer race walk event. His compatriot Diego García had the bronze, following Perseus Karlstrom of Sweden.