Mondo Duplantis Reacts After Completing Award Double with World Athlete of the Year Title

Swedish pole-vaulter Armand “Mondo” Duplantis has once again etched his name into the annals of athletics history by securing the prestigious World Athlete of the Year award for the third time at a glittering ceremony in Monaco on Sunday evening. 

The 26-year-old’s triumph caps off a season of unparalleled dominance that saw him remain undefeated across 16 competitions in  a feat that makes him the first male pole vaulter in modern history to go unbeaten for two successive years.

Duplantis not only retained his indoor and outdoor world titles  in the 2025 campaign but also rewrote the record books with ruthless consistency. The season saw him break his own world record four times, clearing 6.27m in Clermont-Ferrand, 6.28m in Stockholm, and 6.29m in Budapest. 

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However, the crowning moment came on the grandest stage of all, when he soared over 6.30m at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, cementing his status as the undisputed king of the event.

One month after being named European Athlete of the Year for the third time, this global accolade reaffirms his position at the pinnacle of track and field. Upon receiving the award, Duplantis expressed deep gratitude to those who have supported his journey, from the voting jury to his inner circle.

"Thank you so much. This is such a huge honour. Thank you to the jury and World Athletics for voting me in yet again," Duplantis told World Athletics.

 "I hope to keep pushing it. I hope to keep irritating everyone who has to vote for me for years to come. I'm proud to represent everyone who supports me – my family and my future wife. It's very special, I'm going to really cherish this one.

"I genuinely try to be the best version of myself that I can possibly be. I have a lot of joy that I hope to spread when I'm on the track; I have an immense passion and joy for what I do. I'm so obsessed with pole vaulting and I love pushing myself. I hope that I can inspire the next generation to try athletics, and even pole vaulting. If I can inspire even just a few people to do it, then I feel I'm doing my job."

The World Athlete of the Year trophy now safely in his cabinet, Duplantis is already looking ahead to new challenges. The Swede has identified a specific gap in his illustrious resume that he intends to fill during the upcoming season.

Duplantis noted that despite his numerous records, he has yet to break the world record at the European Championships, a statistic he is eager to correct.

 "I guess I haven't broken the world record at the European Championships? So yes, that's something that I have to do. That'd be great if I was able to do it in Birmingham," he admitted.

The night in Monaco also celebrated other remarkable achievements in the world of athletics. Spain’s Maria Perez was named women’s Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year, a fitting reward for her incredible resilience and dominance. 

Perez successfully defended both her 20km and 35km race walk titles at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. 

The evening also recognized the unsung European heroes and moments of sportsmanship that define the spirit of athletics. Belgium’s Tim Van de Velde received the International Fair Play Award for his selfless act of assisting an injured runner during the 3000m steeplechase heats in Tokyo. 

Additionally, the coaching fraternity was represented by Irish combined events coach Michael O’Connor, who won the 2025 Coaching Achievement Award. His dedication was instrumental in guiding his daughter, Kate O’Connor, to a historic silver medal in the heptathlon at the World Athletics Championships, making her the first Irish athlete to podium in the event.