Armand Gustav "Mondo" Duplantis, a leading figure in modern pole vaulting with numerous international achievements. He showed intense interest in sports from childhood and was introduced to pole vaulting at a very young age thanks to a training facility built in his family’s garden. Drawing on his dual heritage between Sweden and the United States, he rose to international prominence, attracting attention through record-breaking performances at a young age. Since 2020, he has repeatedly broken world records, securing his place in sports history. In 2025, his jump of 6.30 metres became the highest ever achieved in human history. He has won Olympic gold medals and earned world and European titles, securing gold at every major competition and becoming the undisputed record-holder of his discipline.

Armand Duplantis (Flickr)

Early Life and Family

Armand Gustav "Mondo" Duplantis was born on 10 November 1999 in Lafayette, Louisiana, United States. His father, Greg Duplantis, is a former pole vaulter, and his mother, Helena, is a Swedish former heptathlete and volleyball player. Deeply involved in sports, his family installed a pole vaulting facility in their backyard to support their children’s development. Thanks to this, Duplantis began training at a very young age and attempted his first vault at age three.

The family’s passion for sport extended to his siblings. Andreas competed in pole vaulting for Sweden, Antoine played professional baseball, and his younger sister Johanna has begun a professional career in pole vaulting.

Early Years and Rise

Duplantis showed intense dedication to sport during childhood. At age seven, he broke the world best in his age group and went on to set records in every age category over the next six years. During his youth, he closely followed French pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie, modeling his technique after him.

He gained international attention by winning the 2015 World Youth Championships. He followed this with victories at the 2017 European Junior Championships and the 2018 World Junior Championships. These achievements gave him broad recognition before he reached elite senior competition.

Decision to Represent Sweden

Although raised in the United States, Duplantis chose to represent Sweden due to his maternal heritage. He spent summers with his family in Sweden, where he closely observed the country’s athletics culture. The widespread availability of athletics facilities and the national interest in the sport significantly influenced his decision. During this period, he learned Swedish and joined the Uppsala IF club.

Armand Duplantis (AA)

Development of Professional Career

In 2017, Duplantis experienced his first World Championships in London. Although he did not achieve the expected results, this experience became a turning point for his future development. In 2018, he won the European Athletics Championships in Berlin with a jump of 6.05 metres, becoming one of the youngest pole vault champions in history.

World Records and Major Achievements

In 2020, in Toruń, Poland, Duplantis broke Renaud Lavillenie’s world record with a jump of 6.17 metres. A week later in Glasgow, he improved it to 6.18 metres.

In 2022, he set new records of 6.19 metres in Belgrade and 6.20 metres at the World Indoor Championships in the same city. Later that year, at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, he jumped 6.21 metres, becoming world champion and setting a new outdoor world record.

In 2023, he reached 6.22 metres in Clermont-Ferrand and 6.23 metres in Eugene. In 2024, he achieved 6.24 metres in Xiamen, China; 6.25 metres at the Paris Olympics; and 6.26 metres in Chorzów, Poland. In February 2025 in Clermont-Ferrand, he jumped 6.27 metres; in June in Stockholm, 6.28 metres; in August in Budapest, 6.29 metres; and in September in Tokyo, 6.30 metres, consecutively breaking his own world records.

As of 2025, Duplantis has broken the world record 14 times and holds the highest mark ever achieved in human history at 6.30 metres.

At the 2026 Mondo Classic Championship held at the IFU Arena in Sweden, Duplantis improved the world record by one centimetre with a jump of 6.31 metres. With this achievement, he has now broken 15 world records at this event in his home country.

Olympic and World Championship Titles

Duplantis won gold at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, he cleared 6.25 metres, breaking both the Olympic and world records. He also won gold at the World Championships in Eugene 2022, Budapest 2023, and Tokyo 2025.

Technical Features and Style

Duplantis stands out for his high-speed sprinting, powerful takeoff technique, and bold approach. Technically, he employs a “tuck and shoot” style and is known for initiating his pole plant earlier than most athletes. Despite these minor differences, his exceptional speed generates unique kinetic energy, enabling him to achieve unmatched heights.

Media and Cultural Impact

With millions of followers on social media, Duplantis has become a key figure in promoting athletics globally. He has signed sponsorship deals with brands such as Puma and Red Bull and has posed for magazines including Vogue Scandinavia. In 2022, he was the central subject of the Red Bull documentary Born to Fly. In 2025, he also released a music track titled “Bop”.

Personal Life

Duplantis is in a relationship with Swedish model Desiré Inglander. He maintains close ties with his family and continues to receive support from his father Greg and mother Helena during training.