Athlete Armand Duplantis falls defeated for the first time in three years

The historic streak of Armand Duplantis came to an end. The Olympic champion and world record holder of pole vault suffered an unexpected defeat this Sunday in the meeting of Stockholm of the Diamond League 2026where the Australian Kurtis Marshall He took the victory before the Swedish public.

After almost three years without defeat, the Scandinavian athlete was unable to surpass 5.80 meters on a day marked by difficult weather conditions, ending one of the most impressive streaks in world athletics.

A historic streak ends for Armand Duplantis

He Stockholm Olympic Stadium had been the scene of some of the most memorable moments of the career of Armand Duplantisincluding world records and historic performances.

However, this time the story was different. The Swede, who arrived as a big favorite after recently raising the world record to 6.31 metershe failed to find his best version in front of his fans.

The strong gusts of wind that affected the competition complicated each attempt of the current Olympic champion, who was unable to overcome the decisive heights and ended up putting in an unusual performance for his competitive level.

Kurtis Marschall seizes the opportunity and conquers Stockholm

While Duplantis struggled to find stability in his jumps, the Australian Kurtis Marshall He showed greater consistency and took advantage of the conditions to win a valuable victory.

The double world bronze medalist registered a mark of 5.90 metersenough to prevail in a competition that will go down in history due to the end of the Swede’s absolute dominance.

At 29 years old, Marschall achieved one of the most important triumphs of his sporting career by defeating the man who seemed invincible in the discipline.

Duplantis’ first defeat since 2023

The last time Armand Duplantis had been defeated dates back to July 21, 2023, when he finished in fourth place during a competition held in Monaco.

Since then, the Swede had dominated every tournament he participated in, establishing himself as the great figure of the world athletics and constantly raising their own records.

Its impressive steadiness since 2020 reflects the size of its hegemony: 105 competitions played, 100 victories and just five defeats.

A different start to the season for the Olympic champion

The Stockholm test represented only the second outdoor competition of Duplantis during the 2026 season.

Its premiere had come in Shanghai Diamond Leaguewhere he won with a mark of 6.12 meters, although without reaching the spectacular records that usually accompany it.

In Sweden he first tried to overcome 6.00 meters and later 6.05, but he was unable to complete any of the attempts, finally ending up with a discreet jump of 5.80 meters.

Can this defeat affect Duplantis’ dominance?

Although the defeat represents unexpected news for the world of athletics, few doubt that Armand Duplantis will continue to be the fundamental reference of the pole vault.

The Swede continues to be the holder of the world recordtwo-time Olympic champion and multiple world champion, credentials that keep him as the great favorite for the upcoming international events.

However, the triumph of Kurtis Marshall It shows that even the most dominant figures can be vulnerable in difficult days, especially when external conditions play a determining role.

Keep reading:
· Athlete without limits: Armand Duplantis once again broke his own record
· Armand Duplantis, the best pole vaulter in the world, dreams of competing at the Santiago Bernabéu
· Armand Duplantis, the man who rose into the sky of Paris 2024 and touched eternity