As Senior Editor of EssentiallySports’ UFC division, Yeswanth Praveen brings firsthand experience to our combat vertical. A competitive boxer since his college days, he still trains four times a week, keeping his connection to the sport sharp. An <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/yeswanth-praveen-849558166/">English major</a> with a strong command of language, Yeswanth combines technical insight with compelling storytelling, decoding complex fight sequences while capturing the heart of a fighter’s journey.

Since joining EssentiallySports in 2021, he has played a pivotal role in shaping our combat coverage strategies. His work has earned recognition from <a href="#gid=0">UFC veterans like Bruce Buffer</a> and former heavyweight Brendan Schaub. His UFC takes on Twitter keep him actively engaged with fight fans. Whether breaking down a high-stakes title fight or profiling a rising prospect, Yeswanth delivers authenticity and depth.

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 On a night built for another Mondo Duplantis showcase, Stockholm’s Olympic Stadium instead witnessed the end of a remarkable reign. The 15-time world record holder arrived on home soil chasing history once more, all because he “would love to jump 6.32.” Few doubted him, given that he has cleared six meters more than 130 times and had not missed that mark in competition for years. But the rhythm that carried him through a 40-meet winning streak finally broke under unexpected pressure. On June 7, 2026, Duplantis cleared 5.80 meters, but missed twice at 6.00m and once at 6.05m. That is well below his world record of 6.31m, which he set earlier at his Mondo Classic event in Uppsala in March. In the end, Kurtis Marschall won the competition with a clearance of 5.90m. Interestingly, this was Duplantis’ first outdoor event of the year. After the event, he admitted he was not at his best, saying, “I felt a bit unfocused today, and I really did not want to lose here in front of my family and fans. I have not lost in what 3 years? But hats off to Kurtis today, who beat me fair and square, and I have no excuses. I am not angry.” The loss marked the end of a series of Olympic medals, five world championship victories, and 18 Diamond League triumphs. It was also his first loss since Monaco 2023, with 5.72m clearances but failures at higher heights, such as 5.82m, 5.92m, and 6.02m. In spite of this, it is always a special occasion for him in Stockholm. He has won the Bauhaus-Galan there four times, in 2020, 2022, 2024, and 2025, and even set a world record there of 6.28m last year, only to raise it to 6.31m. Mondo Duplantis [https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Olympics-29.png]Credits: IMAGO Before the meet, he had spoken about how special the venue is, saying, “Breaking the world record here last year was one of the more special moments I’ve had in my entire life. And so it just made me very motivated to try to replicate that feeling, and so I feel very hungry and motivated.” However, conditions were not ideal. Windy weather made jumping difficult, and Duplantis has previously called Stockholm an “unreliable” pole vault venue due to weather changes. Still, he did not use that as an excuse. But while he was unlucky in sports, he was fortunate in love. He also said after the race, “I will continue enjoying my time here in Stockholm with my family. I am also getting married soon, so unlucky in sports – lucky in love if that’s a saying?” His long-term partner, Desiré Inglander, has been there for him through thick and thin these last few years. The couple met in 2020, and she has often been seen celebrating his biggest moments, including when he cleared 6.25m and ran to embrace her in the crowd. She once wrote, “I guess we’ll never know🥇,” while reacting to his Olympic success. After more than four years together, they got engaged in October 2024 and later had a small legal ceremony at Stockholm City Hall in March 2026. Because Swedish law requires couples to officially register their marriage locally before holding ceremonies abroad, they are now in the middle of celebrating a second, grander ceremony in Cannes, France. But despite the recent loss, Duplantis still has a chance to respond on the biggest stages ahead. MONDO DUPLANTIS STILL HAS A CHANCE TO BREAK THE WORLD RECORD Duplantis has already shifted his attention to July 10 at the Herculis meeting at Stade Louis II in Monaco. Even before taking his first jump, he made his intentions clear. “I’m pleased to have set the stadium record last year (6.05m),” he told L’Équipe. In 2025, he won in Monaco and even attempted 6.29m, though he could not clear it. Now in 2026, his mindset is different. “I think we can push it further this year. I want to jump high, especially in front of my new home crowd. I want to break the world record here. That’s my mindset going into this meeting.” Monaco now feels closer than ever to him. Duplantis has recently made it his base, moving nearer to Stade Louis II after previously splitting time between Stockholm and Lafayette, Louisiana. That shift has changed how he views the meet. “I thought it would be really strange for the Herculis meeting to take place and for me not to participate, since I live just around the corner. Something had to be done so I could jump here,” he said. He added, “Now that I’m here, living here, training here, a world record here seems essential. It would be fantastic to achieve it. My mind is focused on that goal.” Looking ahead, he will also aim to continue his dominance on the biggest global stages, including his long-term target of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. “I do still have that confidence that going into [Olympics 2028] in LA, I’m going to be in even better shape. I can jump even higher,” he told CNN Sports. “I’m going to do something like that, make a big splash, maybe break a record again.” Duplantis’ comments after losing his win streak is a lesson in accepting defeat with grace. He knows that even though he lost a competition today, he is winning in life, and has much more to look forward to and compete for in the near future. 

Mondo Duplantis reacts calmly after first loss in three years at Stockholm Diamond League, staying focused on future competitions.

Maleeha Shakeel is a Senior Olympic Sports Writer at EssentiallySports, known for covering some of the biggest moments in global sport. From the World Athletics Championships 2023 to the Paris Olympics 2024 and the Winter Cup 2025, she has reported live on events that define sporting history. Her coverage has also been <a href="https://www.olympics.com/en/news/could-oblique-seville-steal-the-100m-crown-in-tokyo?uxreference=seealso">cited by Olympics.com</a> on its official platform.

Whether breaking developments in real time, such as her widely-followed live blog on <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/olympics-gymnastics-news-fighting-against-setbacks-all-her-life-jordan-chiles-reveals-true-feelings-over-gymnastics-career/">Jordan Chiles</a>’ medal revocation, or crafting feature stories that explore the mental and emotional journeys of athletes, Maleehah’s work blends accuracy, clarity, and storytelling flair to resonate with fans worldwide.

As part of EssentiallySports’ Journalistic Excellence Program, an in-house initiative to hone advanced reporting, editorial strategy, and audience-focused writing, she has developed a distinct voice that focuses on people, pressure, and pivotal moments. From chronicling Sha’Carri Richardson’s sprints to capturing Letsile Tebogo’s rise, her reporting offers readers insight beyond the scoreboard.

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“I Am Not Angry”: Mondo Duplantis Responds to First Loss in 3 Years at Stockholm
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&#8220;I Am Not Angry&#8221;: Mondo Duplantis Responds to First Loss in 3 Years at Stockholm Diamond League

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Maleeha Shakeel is a Senior Olympic Sports Writer at EssentiallySports, known for covering some of the biggest moments in global sport. From the World Athletics Championships 2023 to the Paris Olympics 2024 and the Winter Cup 2025, she has reported live on events that define sporting history. Her coverage has also been cited by Olympics.com on its official platform. Whether breaking developments in real time, such as her widely-followed live blog on Jordan Chiles’ medal revocation, or crafting feature stories that explore the mental and emotional journeys of athletes, Maleehah’s work blends accuracy, clarity, and storytelling flair to resonate with fans worldwide. As part of EssentiallySports’ Journalistic Excellence Program, an in-house initiative to hone advanced reporting, editorial strategy, and audience-focused writing, she has developed a distinct voice that focuses on people, pressure, and pivotal moments. From chronicling Sha’Carri Richardson’s sprints to capturing Letsile Tebogo’s rise, her reporting offers readers insight beyond the scoreboard.

“I Am Not Angry”: Mondo Duplantis Responds to First Loss in 3 Years at Stockholm Diamond League

“I Am Not Angry”: Mondo Duplantis Responds to First Loss in 3 Years at Stockholm Diamond League

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