Not many can head into the Olympics knowing the Gold medal is all but theirs. Armand Duplantis of Sweden is one such athlete, who is all but assured of another Gold medal. The pole vaulter has been in sensational form ever since he broke the world record in 2020. He has won nearly every competition he has competed in, including the Tokyo Olympics.
Duplantis is heading into the Paris Olympics with a new world record of 6.24m which he achieved in April in Xiamen. The 24-year-old is at the peak of his prowess, staying well ahead of the chasing pack in men’s pole vault. At the Paris Diamond League earlier this month, Duplantis cleared 6m in his first attempt but failed three times in his attempts to break his world record. His closest challenger, Sam Kendricks of the United States, managed 5.95m to finish second.
In 2024, there have been 9 vaults touching 6m or above and eight of them have come from Duplantis. Christopher Nilsen of the United States is the only man who has managed a 6m leap apart from the golden body of men’s pole vault this year. Another Gold, this time in Paris, will only establish the Swedish-American pole-vaulter as one of the best in track and field history.
Mondo Duplantis was born to a family deeply involved in athletics. His father, Greg Duplantis, was a former pole vaulter, and his mother, Helena Duplantis, was a former heptathlete and volleyball player. This athletic heritage played a significant role in shaping Mondo’s early life. The Duplantis family had a pole vault set up in their backyard, where Mondo first tried the sport at just three years old. This early exposure laid the foundation for his future success.
SERIAL WORLD RECORD BREAKER
Duplantis’s consistency in shattering world records is phenomenal. He set his first world record in 2020 with a mark of 6.17 meters and has continued to break his own records, holding the top eight spots on the world record list for men’s pole vault. His most recent world record stands at an incredible 6.24 meters, set in April 2024. Duplantis has won numerous titles, including the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, two World Championship titles, and multiple Diamond League and European Championship titles. He is currently ranked first in the world in the men’s pole vault and holds the top spot in the men’s overall track and field rankings.
Mondo Duplantis, despite being born in the United States, chose to represent Sweden in global athletics due to the popularity of track and field in the country. He has made a concerted effort to adopt Swedish culture, practicing the language and driving a Swedish car, which has contributed to his immense popularity in Sweden.
One of the most dominant track and field athletes of this generation, Mondo Duplantis is all set to entertain the Paris crowd next month. Gear up for a record or two and some high-quality entertainment from the dashing young athlete.