Armand Duplantis can't legally buy a beer in the United States, but the 20-year-old pole vaulter is already among the most influential track and field stars in the world. Although he was born in Lafayette, Louisiana, "Mondo" competes internationally for his mother's home country of Sweden. On the international stage, Duplantis claimed first place at the World U18 Championships, World U20 Championships, European Championships, and took home second at the 2019 IAAF World Championships in Qatar.
Duplantis needed one collegiate season with the LSU Tigers last year to realize he was ready for a professional career on the European circuit. In 2019, Duplantis was the NCAA's indoor champion, outdoor runner-up, SEC indoor and outdoor champion, and broke collegiate pole vault records both indoors and outdoors. He swept SEC Field Athlete of the Year honors as he put up some of the top marks in NCAA history.
With a resume like that, does it surprise anyone that the American-born Swede broke the pole vault world record twice in one week?
In Torun, Poland on February 8, Armand "Mondo" Duplantis set a new men's pole vault world record, clearing a height of 20 feet, 2 3/4 inches. The record was previously set by France's Renaud Lavillenie back in 2014. Before that, Sergey Bubka's record of 20 feet, 2 inches had stood since 1993.
It took Mondo Duplantis one week to break his world record yet again.
During the Muller Indoor Grand Prix in Glasgow, Scotland on February 15—a stop on the World Athletics Indoor Tour—Duplantis upped his world record by clearing 6.18 meters, equivalent to 20 feet, 3 1/4 inches, and he did it with room to spare.
Keep in mind, this pole vaulting prodigy is 20 years old who has yet to reach his peak physical form.
Mondo Duplantis Breaks Pole Vault World Record
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Duplantis has Louisiana State University in his blood. His father, Greg, was an All-American pole vaulter for the Tigers in his own right. One of Mondo's older brothers, Andreas, was an LSU pole vaulter from 2012-15. His other brother is Antoine Duplantis, who left Baton Rouge as LSU baseball's all-time leader in hits, triples, games played and at-bats.
Mondo could've turned pro after high school, but used one season in college to hone his craft and carry on the family legacy.
He may not officially be an LSU Tiger anymore, but the Louisiana-native is obviously ready to take his talent to the national stage when he competes for Sweden as the favorite to win gold at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. When it's all said and done, the new world record holder could retire as the greatest pole vaulter the track & field world has ever seen.
