Lafayette native and former LSU Track and Field star Mondo Duplantis will compete for a gold medal after advancing to the pole vaulting finals.
Duplantis didn’t clear his first attempt at 5.50 (just over 18 feet), but then cleared on his second attempt.
After that, he cleared 5.65 (about 18 feet, 6 inches) and 5.75 (about 18 feet, 10 inches) on the first attempts.
The former Lafayette High Lion is representing his mother’s home country of Sweden. He is the world record holder in outdoor and indoor pole vault.
The finals will be on Tuesday August 3rd at 5:20 a.m.
Sweden’s Armand Duplantis competes in the men’s pole vault qualification during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on July 31, 2021. (Photo by Ina FASSBENDER / AFP) (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images) 
Sweden’s Armand Duplantis competes in the men’s pole vault qualification during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on July 31, 2021. (Photo by Ina FASSBENDER / AFP) (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images) 
Sweden’s Armand Duplantis competes in the men’s pole vault qualification during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on July 31, 2021. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP) (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images) 
Sweden’s Armand Duplantis competes in the men’s pole vault qualification during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on July 31, 2021. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP) (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images) 
Sweden’s Armand Duplantis competes in the men’s pole vault qualification during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on July 31, 2021. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP) (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images) 
Sweden’s Armand Duplantis competes in the men’s pole vault qualification during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on July 31, 2021. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP) (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images) 
Sweden’s Armand Duplantis competes in the men’s pole vault qualification during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on July 31, 2021. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP) (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images) 
TOKYO, JAPAN – JULY 31: Armand Duplantis of Team Sweden competes in the Men’s Pole Vault Qualification on day eight of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on July 31, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) 
TOKYO, JAPAN – JULY 31: Armand Duplantis of Team Sweden reacts while competing in the Men’s Pole Vault Qualification on day eight of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on July 31, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images) 
TOKYO, JAPAN – JULY 31: Armand Duplantis of Team Sweden competes in the Men’s Pole Vault Qualification on day eight of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on July 31, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images) 
TOKYO, JAPAN – JULY 31: Armand Duplantis of Team Sweden competes in the Men’s Pole Vault Qualification on day eight of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on July 31, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) 
TOKYO, JAPAN – JULY 31: Armand Duplantis of Team Sweden competes in the Men’s Pole Vault Qualification on day eight of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on July 31, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
