Greek pole vault sensation Emmanouíl Karalís delivered another world-class performance on Sunday evening, taking first place at the Fly Athens international athletics meeting with a stunning 6.00m vault—his seventh career clearance of the iconic six-metre mark, all achieved within the 2025 season.

The event, held in the historic Panathenaic Stadium—Athens’ marble landmark from antiquity—was a celebration of elite pole vaulting, drawing fans and athletes from around the globe. Karalís, the 26-year-old Olympian and star of the event, did not disappoint, setting a new meet record and electrifying the crowd with his athleticism and consistency.

A Landmark Season for Karalís

Karalís’ latest feat continues a breakout year for the Greek athlete. With seven six-metre jumps under his belt in just over half a season, 2025 has firmly established him among the elite of global pole vaulting. His performance in Athens is now officially the fourth-best vault worldwide this year—adding to his already impressive 6.05m jump, the second-best globally in 2025.

Known for his refined technique and laser-sharp focus, Karalís appears to be closing in on even loftier goals. Vaulting 6.10 metres would place him among the top three pole vaulters in history, and although that barrier wasn’t broken at Fly Athens, the gap is narrowing.

Manolo Karalis

Athletics – World Athletics Indoor Championships – Nanjing Youth Olympic Sports Park, Nanjing, China – March 22, 2025 Sweden’s Armand Duplantis celebrates with his national flag after winning the Men’s Pole Vault final alongside second place Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis and third place Sam Kendricks of the U.S. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Rising Stars: Rizos Breaks Personal Record

Also shining at Fly Athens was Yiannis Rizos, who soared to a new personal best of 5.73m, surpassing his previous record of 5.62m set in June 2024. The 25-year-old vaulter executed a strong and consistent series, clearing 5.33m and 5.53m on his first attempts, then 5.63m on his second, before nailing 5.73m on his first try.

Rizos’ performance earned him fourth place overall and moved him into third all-time in Greece’s national rankings—trailing only Karalís and veteran Konstadínos Filippídis, whose record stands at 5.91m.