By Jo Gunston
Picture by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Armand DUPLANTISAthletics
Many a kid dreams of competing at an Olympic Games. Many of those kids also dream of winning a medal. Some of them, even Olympic gold. But how many kids do you reckon picture themselves not only being an Olympian, but winning Olympic gold WITH A WORLD RECORD?
That's even beyond the scope of a little kid, isn't it?
Apparently not.
A young Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis, famed for the pole-vault track and equipment his father set up in their family's back garden, did just that, he told Olympics.com the day after making his dream come true on Monday, 5 August at Paris 2024 with a height of 6.25 metres to break his own world record.
"I think I visualised this exact situation happening a thousand times in my head," said the American-born athlete who represents Sweden. "I mean, I feel like that was almost every time I went out to the backyard and I would jump, I think I would visualise this exact situation. It was world-record height, Olympic final, all the time.
"And so … on the back of the runway, it felt like I'd been there a thousand times because I've been visualising this moment for such a long time. So it's just crazy, it's just crazy that the dream came true, that's for sure."
In those moments in the backyard, there certainly wouldn't have been the broiling of emotion emanating from 80,000 athletics fans willing you on to make history, yet Duplantis has broken the world record nine times, so has been able to compete under such intense scrutiny.
But not like this. Not with 80,000 spectators roaring you on at the giddiest of Olympic Games at the iconic Stade de France, which has seen its fair share of dramatic moments.
This was something else. Even for Mondo.
"It's pretty hard to beat that, a world record in an Olympic final, in France with 80,000 people cheering my name and just going berserk. It's unbelievable. [That's] the most amazing crowd that I've ever been a part of."
And it wasn't just the crowd that was supporting the 24-year-old.
- Olympic Games Paris 2024 schedule
Pole vault camaraderie special, says Duplantis
Such is the camaraderie between field athletes, in particular, who spend so much time out in the arena together, that his peers were clapping Duplantis down the runway, too. This isn't new.
The male pole vaulters are renowned for their support of each other, with Duplantis playing his part in creating a playful atmosphere in the sport they all love.
"We have such a such a strong respect for each other," said Duplantis now a two-time Olympic champion and twice world-title holder.
"It's just a great group of guys that we're jumping with and it makes it so much more enjoyable that we have this very healthy balance where we're competitors — we want to beat each other every time we step out on the track, there's no doubt about that — but also having that mutual respect for each other.
"After the competition's over or maybe I jump another height and I've already won, them cheering me on, pushing me and wanting me to go higher, that means the world to me, and it's very special."
Of course, the most important people in the crowd with whom to celebrate such a momentous achievement were Mondo's girlfriend, friends, family — the latter one and the same as dad Greg Duplantis, a former pole vaulter himself, is his technical coach, and mom Helena Duplantis is his trainer.
So what was that moment like, after immediately landing on the crash pad and then taking off towards his loved ones faster than Noah Lyles in the 100m?
"I don't think there's really words to explain it," he said with a smile. "I mean, it's just very overwhelming, I guess is the best way to explain it. It's just like this weird Cloud Nine sensation where it doesn't even feel real."
And afterwards? How did they all celebrate?
"Stayed up really late," he laughed. "Stayed up too late, but that's OK. I celebrated with my loved ones and had a dang good night.
"For me, having my family kind of split between Sweden and the United States, it's pretty hard to get everybody together, so it was more of a family reunion even than just a celebration. That's the special thing about sports and especially the thing about something that's as big as the Olympics. It can bring people together in such a special way that I don't think anything really compares to it."
Incomparable, you mean? Right back atcha Mondo, right back atcha.
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