Manolo knocks the bar down
12/03/2026 21:16

Karalis at 6 meters
12/03/2026 21:15

Marshall also fails
12/03/2026 21:14

Kendricks’ first attempt at 6m is unsuccessful
12/03/2026 21:13

Norwegian Guttormsen also records his first failed attempt
12/03/2026 21:12

First failed attempt for Bradford
12/03/2026 21:10

The attempts at 6m begin

Successful jump by Guttormsen
12/03/2026 20:34

Bradford is the first to clear 5.80m
12/03/2026 20:33

Nielsen also knocks it down
12/03/2026 20:32

Lightfoot fails his first attempt at 5.80m
12/03/2026 20:31

The picture of the competition before the bar is raised to 5.80m
mondo_classic_1
12/03/2026 20:29

The Swede clears the bar in regal style
12/03/2026 20:28

First jump for Duplantis
12/03/2026 20:27

Guttormsen and Karalis are the only two who will not attempt 5.65m… Marshall also records his first successful jump
12/03/2026 20:27

Kendricks clears 5.65m as well
12/03/2026 20:26

The Dutchman Vloon also clears it
12/03/2026 20:25

The third American, Zachary Bradford, clears 5.65m
12/03/2026 20:25

Successful jump by American Nielsen at 5.65m
12/03/2026 20:24

Lightfoot clears 5.65m as well
12/03/2026 20:23

The Dutchman clears it too
Vloon clears the height on his second attempt and continues in the competition.
12/03/2026 20:20

Three athletes skipped 5.50m
Karalis, Marshall (Australia) and Duplantis skipped the opening height.
12/03/2026 20:20

The following athletes cleared 5.50m:
Lightfoot (USA) – 5.50
Nielsen (USA) – 5.50
Bradford (USA)
Guttormsen (Norway)
Kendricks (USA)

While the following knocked it down on the first attempt:
Vloon (Netherlands)
12/03/2026 20:18

Lightfoot’s first attempt at 5.50m is successful
12/03/2026 20:13

Manolo entered to huge applause, but the entire indoor arena rose to its feet for Duplantis
12/03/2026 20:10

The official presentation of the athletes has begun
12/03/2026 20:07

Athletes competing

Duplantis (Sweden) – Season best: 6.06m
Karalis (Greece) – Season best: 6.17m
Guttormsen (Norway) – Season best: 6.06m
Bradford (USA) – Season best: 6.01m
Marshall (Australia) – Season best: 6.00m
Lightfoot (USA) – Season best: 5.91m
Kendricks (USA) – Season best: 5.85m
Nielsen (USA) – Season best: 5.85m
Vloon (Netherlands) – Season best: 5.77m

12/03/2026 20:04

The jumps will start at 5.50m
12/03/2026 20:01

The presentation of the athletes has begun
12/03/2026 19:52

The event is broadcast live on ERT Sports 2
12/03/2026 19:51

All athletics fans are waiting to see the duel between Duplantis and Karalis.
12/03/2026 19:50

The competition in Uppsala will begin in a few minutes.
12/03/2026 19:11

The athletes’ warm-up has begun and the first jumps are expected to start at 19:30, with Karalis and Duplantis entering the competition a little later.

Pre-race context

Today’s clash between the two top pole vaulters of recent years at the IFU Arena does not resemble any of their previous 40 meetings, in which the Greek Olympic medalist has one victory and the Swede 39.

This time, however, Karalis enters with the confidence of holding the best performance in the world with 6.17m, a height achieved in history only by him and Duplantis.

Their most recent meeting (February 22, 2026 in Clermont) cannot really be compared to today’s, as the Greek champion was still testing his new poles and managed only 5.90m, then failed at 6.05m, while the Swede—competing in his first event—cleared 6.05m and then attempted 6.31m.

Their duel in Uppsala will give the first—though not definitive—indication of how close Karalis has come to Duplantis’ standards in a competition that also includes:
Sondre Guttormsen (6.06 this season), Zach Bradford (6.01), Curtis Marshall (6.01), KC Lightfoot (5.91), Sam Kendricks (5.85), Chris Nielsen (5.85) and Menno Vloon (5.77).

Statements from the athletes

Karalis emphasized the friendly rivalry among competitors:

“The most important thing for me is that we are all good friends. The competition is healthy and whoever jumps higher will be applauded and congratulated. Hopefully we all set personal bests and maybe we’ll even see a world record… from me (laughs).”

“We’ll enjoy it, and whatever happens, the point is that we’re all pushing the event and the sport forward. As Mondo said, we are living in the best era pole vault has ever seen, and I feel blessed to be part of it and to be here today.”

Duplantis also praised the Greek athlete:

“I have to be even more focused, more motivated and maybe a little more nervous. I need to be in the best possible shape because he jumps at a level that nobody else has reached except me.”

He also noted the pressure of competing in his own event:

“This competition, since it carries my name, is the most stressful and the most important event for me during the whole year. It also comes at a time that is one of the most competitive periods in the history of pole vault.”