Mondo Duplantis: The key stats and figures behind the pole vault world record holder's career
To quote Will Ferrell's iconic character Mugatu in the 2001 classic Zoolander, Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis is so hot right now.
In truth, the American-born Swede has been one of the biggest names in athletics for the last four years, starting in 2020 when the 24-year-old set his first world record (more on that below).
Thanks to his unique backstory, quirky personality and undeniable talent, Duplantis has quite literally taken pole vaulting to new heights.
After successfully defending his title at the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24 in March, Duplantis now embarks on a new quest to earn a fourth successive Diamond League title as he continues to chase Renaud Lavillenie's series record of seven.
Ahead of the start of the 2024 Wanda Diamond League season opener in Xiamen, People's Republic of China this Saturday (20 April), here is a collection of Duplantis' most impressive statistics in his young career to date.
10 - number of world and European titles
Duplanits, at just 24, has already hit double figures for gold medals won at the youth, junior and senior world and European championships (indoors and outdoors).
His first title came in 2015, when the high school freshman set a new championship record of 5.30 meters at the World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia. If we expand to include all of his podium finishes, Duplantis's tally climbs to 12.
The full breakdown of his world and European medals is as follows:
- 2015: World Youth Champion
- 2016: World Junior bronze medallist
- 2017: European Junior Champion
- 2018: World Junior Champion & European Champion
- 2019: World Championships silver medallist
- 2021: Tokyo 2020 Olympic Champion, European Indoor Champion
- 2022: World Champion, European Champion
- 2023: World Champion
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - AUGUST 26: Gold medalist Armand Duplantis of Team Sweden celebrates winning the Men's Pole Vault Final during day eight of the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 at National Athletics Centre on August 26, 2023 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
1 centimetre - how much Duplantis added to his previous best to set a new world record
One centimetre—the width of a standard pencil—was the barrier Duplantis needed to overcome in his latest world record attempt; one that he surpassed in the opening Diamond League meeting of the season on Saturday (20 April).
Duplantis set the highest jump in pole vault history in September last year, clearing 6.23 metres at the Diamond League Final in Eugene, Oregon.
Not content with that lofty distance, Duplantis cleared 6.24 metres in his first attempt in Xiamen to set his 8th world record.
8 - number of world records
Duplantis holds the world record for the highest pole vault after clearing 6.24 metres on Saturday, but the 1.81 metre (5 ft 11 in) star is no stranger to setting—and breaking—records in the event. In fact, his most recent vault was the eighth time Duplantis has set a pole vaulting world record (the full timeline of his record-breaking vaults can be found below).
- 8 February, 2020 - 6.17 metres
- 15 February, 2020 - 6.18 metres
- 7 March, 2022 - 6.19 metres
- 20 March, 2022 - 6.20 metres
- 24 July, 2022 - 6.21 metres
- 25 February, 2022 - 6.22 metres
- 17 September, 2023 - 6.23 metres
- 21 April, 2024 - 6.24 metres
2 - number of World Athlete of the Year awards
The World Athlete of the Year award is a prestigious accolade that has been presented to athletics athletes since 1988, when Team USA athletes Florence Griffith-Joyner and Carl Lewis were honoured.
Duplantis is one of only three athletes to have been named World Athlete of the Year three times (in 2020, 2022 and 2023).
1 - number of Olympic gold medals
Duplantis arrived at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 (in 2021) to much fanfare after winning gold at the European Championships in 2018 (outdoor) and 2021 (indoor).
The Swede didn't disappoint on his debut at the Games, winning gold after clearing a height of 6.02 m (19 ft 9 in) on his first effort, and afterwards got very close to beating his own world record.
"It's a surreal feeling, really, I still don't know how to explain it. It's something I've wanted for so long and now that it's finally here, and I finally did it, it's so crazy,” said Duplantis.
"Ever since I was a little kid, I have loved this sport so much and I have always believed that it would take me to some great places, and the fact that I'm actually here, I'm at the Olympics and being able to win it is fantastic."
TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 03: Armand Duplantis of Team Sweden competes in the Men's Pole Vault Final on day eleven of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 03, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
3 - number of Diamond League titles
The Diamond League is an annual series of elite track and field athletic competitions comprising fifteen of the best invitational athletics meetings. The series sits in the top tier of the World Athletics (formerly known as the IAAF) one-day meeting competitions.
Launched in 2010, the competition provides athletes with the opportunity to earn prestigious titles, global attention and prize money.
Duplantis has won three consecutive Diamond League titles in the men's pole vault from 2021 to 2023, and is favoured to win a fourth this year.
15 - Duplantis's streak of event wins
Duplantis is the undisputed man to beat in pole vaulting at the moment, with the Swede holding the world, European and Olympic titles in the sport (not to mention the European and world records).
In fact, the last time he didn't win an event (the Herculis Meeting International d'Athletisme EBS—a Diamond League meeting) came in July 2023, when he finished fourth. Since then, Duplantis has won 15 consecutive pole vaulting meets.
The question now becomes: can pole vaulting's superstar continue his form through this season's Diamond League, and into the Olympic Games Paris 2024?