CNN
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The past 12 months have been a whirlwind of Armand “Mondo” Duplantis.
Already one of the most famous faces in track and field, Swedish Paul Wolter was brought to even higher heights in an astonishing year at the age of 25.
Not only did he break his world record to win his second Olympic gold medal in Paris last summer, he was engaged to his longtime girlfriend and made his first advance in the music scene with his debut single.
His achievements were recognized last month at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid, winning the Sportsman of the Year Award, and becoming the second track and field athlete to do so after Usain Bolt.
And after he calls it a “life-changing” year, Duplantis says that more should come.
“I still have confidence to enter[the 2028 Olympics]in LA. I’m going to be even better. I can jump even higher,” Duplantis told CNN Sports in an exclusive interview. “I can just do that, make a big splash and break the record again.
When it comes to dominating a single sport, no one has done it like the duplantis in the pole vault in recent years.
He was one of three men who held the Paul Vault world record in the 21st century, and set the 11 world record for himself in 2020 as he first leveled from 6.17m to 6.27m in five seasons.
Duplantis went from top-level athlete to global superstar at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, breaking the world record of 6.25m in the third and final attempt in the world. In February he again needed just one attempt to break the record. Duplantis revealed to CNN that he is confident that he will reach the 6.30m (approximately 20.67 feet) mark in the near future.
That moment in France saw a huge increase in attention to Duplantis’ achievements, gaining a massive following on social media, and filming international stardom. He also proposed to his girlfriend Desiré Inglander during a photo shoot for Vogue Scandinavia last October.
He acknowledges that the additional attention he received has made him think about his position in the world of sports, particularly his position around Paul’s vault, but he also tries to remain grounded.
“I think you can still see it, but things can be a little bit apart in track and field, and I want to make sure Paul Vault can stand on his two legs, which I think is very important,” he told CNN Sports. “It’s very easy to catch up when you think there are too many people following you and watching you.
“I think it’s strange to conceptualize. I’m trying to start my business over and over. I know I’m a good person. I’m trying to do what I feel is right.
He currently has 28 consecutive victories, and during the top of the sport, Dupantis has garnered two Olympic titles, two world championships and other accolades.
Duplantis admits that the trophies he earns aren’t completely grateful until he cuts the pole. And he also says that his last 12 months look perfect “on paper,” but that was the result of a lot of “ups and downs.”
“There were parts of me that I felt (I didn’t feel like I was where I wanted to be or where I needed to be at that moment, but I think that pushed me to where I needed to be at the right moment, like the Olympics or the finals,” he explained.
“I feel like it wasn’t where I really wanted it because it didn’t start the season a little. But I think I was able to play really well in the outdoor season because I gave it that fire and learned that I should do and that I need to go into the outdoor season, so I have to fix it and change it for that, so I’ve made it perfect for it, so I gave it that fire and I gave it that fire and I think I was able to play very well in the outdoor season.”
Duplantis’s over-pole admiration speaks for itself, but he still found time to enjoy other aspects of his life.
Last September he defeated the 400-meter hurdle sensation Karsten Warholm in a 100-meter display race in Switzerland, finishing the race in an impressive 10.37 seconds.
Duplantis admits that if he participates in competitive races in Michael Johnson’s newly created Grand Slam Track Series, he would become “smoke” but prefers to stay in “guest races,” but he said he would like to try other races in various lengths in the future.
He also found time to soak his toes in the music booth and released his debut single “Bop” this February.
Music has been passionate about Duplantis for a long time. He describes how he was in the choir as a young man and spent hours in a Swedish studio when he didn’t hone his sports skills.
Losing contact with his musical side over the years, Duplantis says he returned to it about three years ago and dabbled in making his own music.
Duplantis released “Bop” on the same day as the recent world record in February. The song was played through stadium speakers during a record-breaking jump.
He admits he’s “very nervous” when the song is released, saying there’s “more to come.”
“I really love it and I think it’s a good thing for me as a person and as an athlete,” he said.
