English
French
Dutch
Due to a minor leg injury, Mondo Duplantis decided at the last minute to withdraw from the Wanda Diamond League final at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme.
“I would have loved to have fought out a thrilling duel with Mondo, but unfortunately injuries are just part and parcel of our sport,” said Karalis. “His withdrawal gave someone else the chance to win, and I’m absolutely delighted that I seized that opportunity.”
Karalis won with a jump of 6.12 metres, one centimetre higher than the meeting record set by Duplantis in Brussels in 2024.
“This is my first victory in a Diamond League final, a trophy that symbolises the fact that I’m currently living my dreams.”
“The stadium was packed with Greeks. It’s incredible how many of my compatriots were here tonight. This year I’ve received support and appreciation from all over the world, and that makes this period in my career extra special. I’m immensely grateful to be where I am today,” said the surprise Greek winner.
DUPLANTIS DISAPPOINTED
How serious is Duplantis’s injury? “The problem with my leg started in London,” explained the Swede. “Since then, it’s actually felt fine and I’ve put a lot of work into it, but in Zurich the pain came back. I carried on anyway, probably pushing myself a bit too hard.”
“I’d told myself I wouldn’t jump if I felt that irritation again during the warm-up. That’s why I took the difficult decision not to compete. The worst thing that can happen is having to withdraw from a competition. The fans wanted to see a great show, and I would have loved to give them that.”
“It’s incredibly difficult, but that’s life, and that’s the life of an athlete too. There’s a lot going through my mind. I’m trying to stay calm and positive. Whether I’ll make it to next week’s Ultimate Championships in Budapest remains to be seen. At the moment, I don’t have an answer to that.”