Hey everyone, it’s your go-to sports reporter here, and if you’re anything like me, you’ve been glued to the action from the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this week. The 2025 edition kicked off on September 13 and runs through the 21st at the iconic National Stadium, and today, Monday the 15th, was one of those days that had us all on the edge of our seats. With humid conditions and a packed schedule, it was a perfect blend of heats, quals, and finals – but let’s be real, the main event was Armand “Mondo” Duplantis in the men’s pole vault final. Spoiler: He didn’t disappoint. Grab your coffee, and let’s break it down like we’re chatting at the track.
First off, a quick shoutout to the Swedes – because, man, Team Sweden is putting on a show at these championships. The document from Aftonbladet nailed it with the schedule, and I’ve cross-checked it with the latest updates from Olympics.com and World Athletics to make sure we’re all on the same page. Today was Day 3, and while the early morning hours (in Tokyo time, anyway) featured some solid qualifying rounds, the afternoon finals were where the medals – and the magic – happened.
The Big One: Duplantis Clears the Bar (Literally) in Pole Vault Final
Starting at 12:49 Swedish time (that’s about 19:49 in Tokyo), the men’s pole vault final was the highlight everyone was waiting for. Mondo Duplantis, the 25-year-old Swedish superstar born in Louisiana but repping Sweden like a boss, entered as the overwhelming favorite. He’s already broken the world record 13 times – yeah, you read that right – with his latest at 6.29m back in Budapest just last month. And today? He sailed through the opening height of 5.55m like it was a warm-up, with what reporters described as “plenty of air to spare.” The crowd went wild on the replay alone.
Competitors like Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis (world No. 2), USA’s Sam Kendricks, Australia’s Kurtis Marschall, and even the veteran Renaud Lavillenie were in the mix, but Duplantis was untouchable. He planned his jumps meticulously, saving his fourth attempt for 6.05m, and cleared it effortlessly. In the end, he took gold with a 6.15m leap – not a new record this time (he teased 6.30m but held back), but enough to secure his third straight outdoor world title. Silver went to Karalis at 6.05m, and Kendricks grabbed bronze. Post-jump, Duplantis was all smiles, telling reporters, “I feel like I didn’t really have to push it so hard.” Classic Mondo – making the impossible look easy. If you’re a fan, you know this guy’s on another level; he’s cleared 6m+ over 100 times now. What a way to cap off the session!
For those tuning in via SVT (which covered the finals from 12:15 to 15:45 on SVT1 and SVT Play), it was pure gold – pun intended. If you missed it, replays are up on SVT Play, and it’s worth the watch just for that electric atmosphere.
Other Swedish Stars Shining Today
Sweden wasn’t just about Duplantis – though he stole the show. Here’s a rundown of the other blue-and-yellow athletes in action, straight from the program:
- 02:00: Ragnar Carlsson in men’s hammer throw qualifying – The big Swede from the A-group and B-group later. He put in a solid effort but didn’t quite punch his ticket to the final. Tough break, but hey, hammer’s a brutal event.
- 02:05: Kajsa Roth in women’s pole vault qualifying – Following in Mondo’s footsteps, Roth cleared some heights but fell short of the final mark. She’s got potential, though – keep an eye on her for future meets.
- 04:20: Moa Granat in women’s 400m hurdles heat – Granat ran a gritty race but didn’t advance. The hurdles field is stacked this year, with stars like Femke Bol lurking.
- 12:35: Carl Bengtström and Oskar Edlund in men’s 400m hurdles heat – Both guys gave it their all, but neither made it through to the semis. Close calls, but the competition’s fierce.
- 12:40: Thobias Montler in men’s long jump qualifying – Montler jumped well but needed 8.15m for auto-qual; he came close but will have to wait for another shot.
- 14:30: Samuel Pihlström in men’s 1500m semifinal – Pihlström hung tough in a tactical race but bowed out. With guys like Josh Kerr and Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the mix, it’s no small feat to even compete at this level.
Overall, a mixed bag for the Swedes beyond Duplantis, but that’s athletics for you – highs and lows in the same day.
Quick Hits from the Rest of Day 3 Finals
Beyond the vault, there were four other medal events that kept the energy high:
- Men’s marathon (00:30 start): Alphonce Simbu from Tanzania made history with gold in a humid, overcast morning. Sweden’s Perseus Karlström was in the mix earlier days, but today was all about endurance.
- Women’s hammer throw final (14:00): A powerhouse event – keep an eye on the results, as it wrapped up with some massive throws.
- Men’s 3000m steeplechase final (14:55): Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali defended his title in style, pulling away in the final lap. Water jumps and all, it was a classic.
- Women’s 100m hurdles final (15:20): Olympic champ Masai Russell from the USA edged out Tobi Amusan of Nigeria for gold. Blistering speed over those barriers!
The whole session ran from the early qualifying pass (00:25–05:00) to the finals, and if you were watching on SVT, you caught every dramatic moment.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for the Championships?
The action doesn’t stop – tomorrow, Tuesday the 16th, shifts to more heats and finals on SVT from 12:30–15:30. Key Swedes to watch:
- 12:35: Andreas Kramer in men’s 800m heat – Kramer’s got that middle-distance fire; could be a medal contender if he advances.
- 12:40: Maja Åskag in women’s triple jump qualifying – Åskag’s been jumping big lately.
- Potential finals spots for Ragnar Carlsson in hammer, Wilma Nielsen and Mia Barnett in women’s 1500m, and more.
Then Wednesday brings Julia Henriksson in women’s 200m, Henrik Larsson in men’s 200m, and possibles like Kajsa Roth in women’s pole vault final. The schedule heats up through the weekend, with decathlon, relays, and Daniel Ståhl in discus on Saturday and Sunday. Don’t sleep on the mixed 4x400m relay or the women’s 5000m final – Sarah Lahti could shine there.
These championships are wrapping up the 2025 season on a high note, with over 2,000 athletes from 200 nations chasing 147 medals. Stars like Noah Lyles (who already won the 100m earlier), Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and Faith Kipyegon are dominating, but Duplantis? He’s the undisputed king of the vault. If you’re in Sweden, fire up SVT Play; internationally, check Olympics.com or local broadcasters like BBC or NBC for streams.
What did you think of today’s action? Did Mondo’s gold live up to the hype, or are you rooting for another Swedish surprise tomorrow? Drop your thoughts in the comments – I’m all ears. Until next time, keep running, jumping, and throwing your best!