Duplantis Wins Inaugural Pole Vault Crown, Taking $150,000 at World Athletics' New $10 Million Championship
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Sep 11
Duplantis Wins Inaugural Pole Vault Crown, Taking $150,000 at World Athletics' New $10 Million Championship
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Sep 11
Summary
Armand Duplantis claimed the first men's pole vault title at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, beating Greece's Emmanouil Karalis before missing at 6.32m in a bid for his 16th world record.
The 26-year-old Swede had already secured a $150,000 winner's prize from the event's record $10 million purse, then took center stage again as the official championship song he wrote and recorded played to a sellout crowd of more than 20,000.
Friday's opening session packed eight finals into three hours, with wins for stars including Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Masai Russell as World Athletics tested a condensed, entertainment-heavy format.
Budapest's black infield, light-show presentation and on-screen win probabilities underscored the governing body's push to make the three-day championship a template for athletics' future.
Will World Athletics' radical $10 million gamble on AR graphics and darkened stadiums permanently change the future of track and field?
After overcoming severe injuries, can returning stars like Hodgkinson maintain their dominance in this high-stakes, rapid-fire championship format?
Duplantis’ 6.20m Victory and the $10 Million Revolution: Inside the 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship
Overview
The 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest marked a turning point for track and field, blending high-stakes competition with bold innovations. Armand Duplantis overcame injury setbacks to win the pole vault title and a record $150,000 prize, highlighting the event’s new $10 million prize pool aimed at addressing historically low athlete compensation. Organizers reimagined the format for fast-paced, TV-friendly sessions, using data to select only the most exciting events and introducing features like live lane drafts and no-tie rules. While these changes energized younger audiences and empowered athletes, they also sparked debate among traditionalists about the sport’s evolving identity.