Armand Duplantis secures victory over Emmanouil Karalis at the Ultimate Championships in Budapest

Swedish pole vault star Armand Duplantis secured another victory against Greek athlete Emmanouil Karalis during the Ultimate Championships held in Budapest on September 11, 2026. The event, which serves as the final major outdoor track and field competition of the season, gathered 381 elite athletes from 65 countries. Prior to the competition, the participants gained public attention after appearing in a formal attire photoshoot, highlighting the camaraderie between the competitors.

During the final, Duplantis demonstrated his dominance by successfully clearing 6.20 meters, which prompted an enthusiastic celebration. Emmanouil Karalis managed to clear 6.15 meters but struggled to surpass his recent national record of 6.20 meters. His attempt to clear 6.25 meters was unsuccessful, as he was unable to reach the height in his final decisive attempt. The event concluded with Duplantis maintaining his status as a world record holder and gold medalist, while Karalis showcased a strong performance despite falling short of a new personal best on this occasion.