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

After almost three years without defeat, the Scandinavian athlete could not surpass 5.80 meters on a day marked by complicated weather conditions, ending one of the most impressive streaks in world athletics.

A historic split ends for Armand Duplantis

Stockholm's Olympic Stadium had been the scene of some of the most memorable moments of Armand Duplantis' career, including 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 meters, 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, Australian Kurtis Marschall showed greater consistency and took advantage of the conditions to take a valuable victory.

The double world bronze medalist registered a mark of 5.90 meters, enough to win in a competition that will go down in history for 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 was on 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 in world athletics and constantly raising his own records.

Its impressive balance 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 event represented only Duplantis' second outdoor competition during the 2026 season.

His debut had come in the Shanghai Diamond League, where 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 main reference in pole vault.

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

However, Kurtis Marschall's triumph shows that even the most dominant figures can be vulnerable on difficult days, especially when external conditions play a determining role.