Gabby Logan suggests Olympics conspiracy theory after Mondo Duplantis breaks pole vault world record

BBC presenter Gabby Logan has revealed a bizarre conspiracy theory she has about the 2024 Olympic Games after seeing Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis claim gold in the men's pole vault.

Duplantis, 24, dominated his opponents to win gold at the Stade de France on Monday night.

It was the perfect evening for the American-born Swedish pole vaulter, who set a new world record after winning his gold medal.

He cleared a height of 6.25m at the third attempt to break his previous world record by just 1cm, sending the crowd wild in the final event of the evening.

While he looked as though he could go higher, Duplantis opted against attempting to do so – and for good reason.

According to Forbes, athletes receive a $100,000 (£78,666) bonus each time they break a world record.

However, the caveat is that athletes can only receive the bonus one time at each meet. If Duplantis broke the record twice on Monday night, he would still only receive $100,000 – explaining his decision to hold off attempting to beat the world record again until the next major event.

After clinching gold, Duplantis rung the bell at the side of the track, as has become customary for winners at the Games in Paris.

The instrument, which is set to be moved to the Notre-Dame cathedral after the Games, has been rung by every athlete who has claimed gold in the track and field – as well as a few selected winners invited from other events in the Olympics.

Having watched Duplantis ring the bell, BBC presenter Logan revealed a conspiracy theory she has about the instrument.

"Now, I've noticed this, that the bell starts to ring before the chimer actually calls the bell," she said.

Upwards of 80,000 people in the Stade de France and you could have heard a pin drop when Mondo Duplantis rang the bell after his pole vault gold medal/world record performance tonight #unreal #OlympicGames #Sweden pic.twitter.com/wTqcwAiyXz

— Deanoooh 50 Shades of Ray (@deanoooh2020) August 5, 2024

"I'm hoping, I'm not seeing... It's like Santa Claus. Is that what I'm seeing is it real?

"Is this a bit of theatre going on down there?"

BBC pundit and four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson joked that Logan was merely jealous of the winning athletes.

"You just want to go down there and do it yourself," the American said.

To which she replied: "We will be investigating that, and maybe send you down, Michael.

"In the name of good journalism I want to make sure that that bell is real!"