Duplantis' 40-meet win streak ends in Stockholm as Australia's Marschall takes Diamond League pole vault

The streak snaps

Armand "Mondo" Duplantis, the Swedish double Olympic champion and world record holder, lost a pole vault competition for the first time in nearly three years on Sunday at the Stockholm Diamond League. Australia's Kurtis Marschall won the event with a third-attempt clearance of 5.90 metres, while Duplantis managed only 5.80 metres before failing twice at 6.00 and once at 6.05. The defeat ended a run of 40 consecutive victories for the 26-year-old, a streak stretching back to the Monaco Diamond League in July 2023.

It was time to lose, it was a very long time since the last time. I can't fathom that I won 40 in a row, it's pretty sick, but it's also sick that I lose in Stockholm, which is the most important competition of the year for me.

A rare off-day at home

Duplantis, who had set his latest world record of 6.31 metres in March 2026, looked out of sorts from the start. He hit the bar on his first attempt at 5.60 metres before clearing it on his second try. He then sailed over 5.80 but could not progress further. The Swede admitted he felt unfocused and pointed to his upcoming wedding in the south of France as a possible distraction, though he refused to make excuses.

I felt a bit unfocused today, and I really did not want to lose here in front of my family and fans. I have not lost in three years, but hats off to Kurtis today who beat me fair and square and I have no excuses.

Marschall's breakthrough

For Marschall, a two-time Commonwealth Games champion and occasional training partner of Duplantis, the victory marked his first-ever Diamond League win. The Australian had previously finished ahead of Duplantis at the 2023 Monaco meeting, where the Swede tied for fourth and Marschall took third. Marschall said he never expected to claim a Diamond League title while Duplantis was competing and described the win as something he would cherish for life.

I did not mean to spoil the show but I am so delighted with the win. It has taken a long while to get my first Diamond League victory and I really thought it would never come with Mondo here.

Other meet highlights

On the track, world champion Melissa Jefferson Wooden of the United States won the women's 100 metres in 10.84 seconds. American Kenny Bednarek took the men's 200 metres in 19.87, the only athlete to break 20 seconds. In the men's 800 metres, 17-year-old American Cooper Lutkenhaus delivered a standout performance with a season-best 1:42.70 to beat Canada's Marco Arop. Swiss runner Audrey Werro made history in the women's 800 metres with a performance not seen in over 40 years. In the field, Italy's Larissa Iapichino finished second in the women's long jump, just one centimetre behind France's Kpatcha (6.85 metres to 6.84 metres). Dutch shot putter Jessica Schilder set a meeting record of 20.89 metres.

What comes next

Duplantis vowed the Stockholm loss would not repeat itself. The pole vault season continues toward the European Championships in Birmingham from 10 to 16 August, which serves as the season's focal point for many European athletes. Duplantis, who has raised the world record 15 times in his career, will now turn his attention to his wedding before resuming competition.