Mondo Duplantis relishes win at lakeside pole vault event and just misses world record

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Mondo Duplantis called his victory Thursday in a vibrant lakeside Diamond League event “the greatest pole vaulting competition ever.”

The Olympic and world champion then took two attempts at a new world record of 6.32 meters and just failed to delight a noisy crowd at a pop-up venue near the Olympic Museum in Lausanne.

Duplantis had cleared the bar at 6.21 meters — with first-time clearances at each of six different heights — for his best result since March, the month that he raised his own world record to 6.31 at an indoor meet in his native Sweden.

Emmanouil Karalis, Duplantis' great friend and rival, cleared 6.16 on Thursday and barely failed on his second attempt at a lifetime best of 6.21.

Three more athletes cleared 5.91, which would have been enough to take bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Duplantis raised his world record to 6.25 and silver medalist Sam Kendricks went over 5.95.

The high-class competition that lasted 2 1/2 hours Thursday also saw four more men, including Kendricks, clear 5.81.

The men's pole vault in an intimate venue by Lake Geneva in Lausanne has become a traditional curtain raiser for the main Athletissima meeting one day later.

On Friday, new Swiss star Audrey Werro is the main attraction in the women's 800 meters chasing track's oldest world record set 43 years ago, in which she is now the third-fastest in history.

See full AP coverage of European sports here

Emmanouil Karalis, of Greece, celebrates after clearing the bar in the men's pole vault competition at the Diamond League athletics city meet in Lausanne in Lausanne, Switzerland, Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)

Emmanouil Karalis, of Greece, competes in the men's pole vault competition at the Diamond League athletics city meet in Lausanne in Lausanne, Switzerland, Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)

Sondre Guttormsen of Norway competes during the men's pole vault competition at the World Athletics Diamond League Athletissima City event athletics meeting, in Lausanne, Switzerland, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)

Armand Duplantis of Sweden celebrates during the men's pole vault competition at the World Athletics Diamond League Athletissima City event athletics meeting, in Lausanne, Switzerland, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)

Armand Duplantis, of Sweden, competes in the men's pole vault competition at the Diamond League athletics city meet in Lausanne in Lausanne, Switzerland, Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta is being held out of practice with a hip injury and coach Dan Campbell is hopeful the ailment doesn't linger into the season.

“I feel like we’ll be OK, but I don’t know,” Campbell said Thursday.

LaPorta, coming off season-ending back surgery, was injured earlier in the week.

“He got hit in the hip and it flared up a little bit,” Campbell said. "It’s a little aggravated, but we feel good long term about him. We’re resting for a little bit here and letting it calm down.”

Detroit drafted LaPorta in the second round three years ago and he earned Pro Bowl recognition as a rookie with 86 catches for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns.

His production dropped in each of the past two years, including last season when he was limited to career lows with 40 receptions for 489 yards and three touchdowns in nine games before having back surgery. He has 186 catches for 2,104 yards with 20 touchdowns in his career.

The Lions have signed several key players to long-term extensions in recent years, including running back Jahmyr Gibbs two weeks ago.

After they closed last season with a 9-8 record and missed the playoffs, LaPorta said he didn't expect to have talks about a new deal this offseason.

“How are they going to extend me if I can’t play football right now? I’ve got to get healthy,” LaPorta said last January.

Detroit hosts the Washington Commanders on Saturday in a preseason game.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell watches during practice at the NFL football team's training camp, in Allen Park, Mich., Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell talks to the media before practice at the NFL football team's training camp, in Allen Park, Mich., Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Lions tight end Sam Laporta watches during practice at the NFL football team's training camp, in Allen Park, Mich., Friday, Aug. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)