Paris Olympics 2024: WA pole vaulter Kurtis Marschall finishes sixth, Armand Duplantis stuns with world record

WA pole vaulter Kurtis Marschall’s dreams of an Olympic medal have fallen heartbreakingly short on a night where Swedish superstar Armand Duplantis cemented his legend status with a stunning world record.

Marschall finished sixth in the men’s final on Tuesday morning (WA time), with the world No.5 overcaming a wretched lead-in and a grizzly dislocated ankle at the national championships earlier this year to threaten but ultimately fall short of a podium finish.

In a final dominated as expected by Duplantis, South Australian-turned-Sandgroper Marschall overcame a miss at 5.80m to clear 5.85m at first attempt and stick with the leading pack.

But Marschall, who boasts a season’s best of 5.87m and a personal best of 5.95m, was unable to stay with his peers, bowing out after an unsuccessful attempt at 5.90m, followed by two more misses at 5.95m.

World record holder Duplantis barely broke a sweat at heights his rivals struggled with, his opponents knowing full well it would be nigh-on impossible to prise the gold medal from his grasp.

After American Sam Kendricks and Greek Emmanouil Karalis won silver and bronze respectively after failing to clear 6m, Duplantis — who had no such difficulties at the height — stripped from his tracksuit and set a new Olympic record of 6.10m at first attempt, flying over by some distance.

He then raised the bar in an attempt to reset his own world record at 6.25m. After failing on his first two attempts, Duplantis delighted the raucous crowd by succeeding on his third try to create one of the moments of the Games.

As he hit the mat, it was the first time the Swede had shown any emotion, leaping up and sprinting to his partner in the crowd to celebrate his achievement.

While a dream medal was not forthcoming for Marschall, his progress since Tokyo, and his recovery from a horror ankle injury suffered while competing at the Australian championships in April.

His dislocated ankle forced him to spend time in a moon boot less than four months before the Games, hampering his preparations before he made a successful return in the lead-up.

Three years ago in Tokyo, Marschall fought his way through to the final, but battled mental demons in the build-up and recorded a “no-heighter” and failed to clear a bar on any of his three attempts.

But this time, the yips were but a distant memory.

Marschall started well and cleared the first jump of 5.50 with ease, and while the second jump height of 5.70 proved to be troublesome for some, it was no match for Marschall who soared above the mark.

He did not quite get a handle on his opening jump at 5.80m, and then opted to skip ahead to 5.85m — which he cleared emphatically at his first go, roaring with delight as fell from the heavens with the bar perfectly still atop its perch.

Kendricks, who initially faltered at 5.85m, cleared 5.90m on first attempt, and when Marschall failed to do so, he opted to decide his Olympic fate with two jumps at 5.95m.

He had twice previously cleared 5.95m, his personal best, including on his way to World Championship bronze in Budapest last year, but was unable to elevate beyond the bar on both occasions, the pole jolting him upwards but not enough to attain glory.

While the disappointment was etched upon his face, there should be a sense of pride in what he has achieved, not what he has not.

In the men’s steeplechase, Australia’s Matthew Clarke finished up the second heat crossing last with a time of 8:49.85, while Ben Buckingham came 10th in the third heat after finishing in 8:32.2.

Australian teen sprinting sensation Torrie Lewis clocked a personal best of 22.92 in the 200m semifinals, but it was not enough for a fairytale finals spot in her first Olympics.

Fellow 200m sprinter Calab Law looked good early in the opening heat of the men’s event, but could not keep pace as he finished in seventh with a 20.75.

Rose Davies did her reputation no harm with a run of 14:49.67 in the 5000m final, enough for the Australian to finish 11th.