Former LSU star and Lafayette native Armand "Mondo" Duplantis is golden after claiming the top spot in the Men's Pole Vault Final at the Tokyo Olympics.
Duplantis, who is the world-record holder for both indoor and outdoor pole vaulting, earned the gold for his mother's home country of Sweden after clearing a height of 6.02 meters on his first attempt.
This is his first Olympic games.
Christopher Nilsen of the United States took silver with a personal best of 5.97 meters. Thiago Braz of Brazil won bronze at 5.87 meters.
Duplantis cleared his first height of 5.55 meters and passed on his second height of 5.70 meters. After clearing a height of 5.80 meters, Duplantis passed on his fourth height of 5.87. He went on to clear all three remaining heights, 5.92, 5.97 and 6.02, in his first attempt.
Following his win, Duplantis attempted to improve on the world record of 6.18 meters he set last year in Glasgow. He was unsuccessful.
The Olympic Record of 6.03 meters was set in 2016 at the Rio Olympics by Brazilian pole vaulter Thiago Braz.
Greg and Helena Duplantis were in Tokyo to watch their son compete while family and friends gathered Tuesday morning in Lafayette to cheer him on. Tuesday's final began at 5:20 am Central Standard Time.
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