Duplantis, better known as Mondo, has an unparalleled grip on his sport, having set the last nine world records in pole vault since he began his reign in 2020, and boasts an impressive collection of trophies.
His extraordinary achievements have elevated him beyond the realm of athletics, and he clinched his first - but undoubtedly not his last - Olympic gold in Tokyo without breaking a sweat.
Arriving in Paris, he was a sure bet for gold and one of the most heavily favoured athletes of the Games, a prediction he confirmed with a historic 6.25m jump. His feats have netted him a substantial fortune and a slew of brand endorsements.
The 24-year-old Swedish-American athlete hails from Lafayette, Louisiana. His father, Greg, was a pole vaulter, while his mother, Helena Hedlund, was a Swedish long-jumper.
Starting his journey at just three years old, after trying out the sport at his family home in the US, a young Duplantis consistently set new world records as he moved up through the age groups.
He first tasted victory at 15, winning the under-18 world title, and seemingly developed a taste for it. In 2017, he became the European junior champion, and in 2019, he finished runner-up at the World Championships.
At the tender age of 21, he made history by becoming Sweden's first gold-medal vaulter, reaching the pinnacle of his sport. But he didn't stop there; he went on to be crowned European champion in 2022 and world champion in 2022 and 2023 - since then, he has been unbeatable.
His godfather reportedly gave him the nickname Mondo, which translates to 'world' in Italian. Alongside his titles, his enduring legacy will be his eight consecutive world records.
Although he still has a long way to go to surpass Ukrainian Sergey Bubka, who is widely regarded as the greatest pole vaulter of all time, if anyone can become the best in their sport, it's Mondo.
He set his first record in 2020 when he surpassed Renaud Lavillenie's six year old 6.16m with a 6.17. Not content with this, the Swede then embarked on a spree, setting seven more records and achieving the current highest feat of 6.24m.
He attempted to reach the 6.25m mark at the Paris Diamond League in July, but failed - only to achieve the feat in the same city later.
His fame has earned him an estimated £4million, with brand endorsements from Red Bull and Puma supplementing his prize money. If he retains his gold in Paris, he will pocket an additional £40,000.
Most Popular
Comments / 0