'It's a strange sport but so special...kind of a circus event'

Olympic champion Duplantis on his world record, pushing the limits of his exotic event and enjoying morning pizza

- Nick Ames

Mondo Duplantis has wound his way up a carpeted staircase, passing under chandeliers and all the delicate trappings of a gorgeous 18th-century villa near Musée d'Orsay. He is clutching an espresso and is mildly apologetic for sounding so croaky. Around 14 hours have passed since the stunning jump, a world record, that garnished his Olympic pole vaulting title and it is fair to say he has not slept for many of them.

There have been childhood friends to party with and several months of intense dietary discipline to fleetingly cast aside.

"I was able to have some fried chicken last night and then pizza probably two hours ago, honestly," he says at a half-whisper. "So we are off to a good start."

This might be the morning after the night before but Duplantis has earned the right to kick back. The world has cottoned on to the fact he is a phenomenon, so utterly brilliant at a compelling, bizarre discipline that nobody really comes close.

"The competition is probably the best it's ever been, the level is very high," he says. "I just happen to be jumping at a little bit of a higher level than them. I think everyone else is doing their job quite well, I'm just jumping really good."

His clearance of 6.25m was a full 30cm higher than that of the silver medallist, Sam Kendricks.

What does it feel like when you are swinging into the night sky, hanging in the air and then swooping down to an enthralled reception from 80,000 punters? "Everything happens so fast, it's like my body just takes over in the moment. You're in a state where everything just flows naturally.