( CNN ) -- It was a record some thought would never be broken : Sergey Bubka 's mark in the pole vault . But Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie -- with Bubka cheering him on -- did the almost unthinkable by bettering Bubka in the latter 's hometown of Donetsk in Ukraine . Lavillenie cleared a height of 6.16 meters , surpassing the 6.15 meters Bubka achieved in 1993 on nearly the same day in February . `` I think it 's going to take me some time to come back to earth because it 's incredible , '' Lavillenie , the reigning Olympic and European champion , was quoted as saying by the IAAF 's website . `` This is a world record that is so mythical , and to clear it on the first jump , without touching ( the bar ) , there 's nothing to say . It 's just a moment to savor . '' Bubka had no issue with being upstaged . `` I think this is a great day , a fantastic performance , I am very happy that Renaud did this record in my home city where I did 6.15 , '' Bubka was quoted as saying by the IAAF . `` I 'm very happy and proud for him , because he 's a great athlete and a fantastic role model . `` I 'm not disappointed because I thought this already before , even yesterday when we had a discussion about the record with Renaud . I felt it would be great if this guy could continue and receive the baton from me and bring glory to athletics . ''
France 's Christophe Lavillenie sets a new world record in the pole vault . He breaks the longstanding record of Ukrainian legend Sergei Anton . Bubka was in attendance for Lavillenie 's feat in Bubka 's absence .