Duplantis Leads Star-Studded Field at Diamond League Season Opener in China
World record holder Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis is set to headline the opening meet of the Wanda Diamond League series in Shanghai and Keqiao, China. The US-born Swedish pole vaulter will compete against a formidable field including Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis and American Sam Kendricks. He is joined by other global athletics stars such as Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon, Norway’s Karsten Warholm, Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, and Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan. This high-profile event marks the beginning of a 15-meet season spanning four continents, culminating in finals in Brussels and the inaugural Ultimate Championships in Budapest. With no major global championships scheduled for 2026, the Diamond League serves as a crucial competitive platform, offering a total prize pool of $9.24 million. The series aims to maintain its status as a premier global track and field competition, especially after the bankruptcy of the rival Grand Slam track series. Duplantis, unbeaten since 2023, remains the focal point, with speculation about potential world record attempts later in the season, particularly in Monaco.
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