Who Is Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis? 5 Things About the Olympian Who Broke the Pole Vault Record
The athlete from Team Sweden is considered to be the GOAT of pole vaulting. Learn more about him, here.
Widely considered to be both the GOAT of pole vaulting and the Timothée Chalamet of Sweden, Armand Duplantis has become one of the most prominent names at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The athlete from Team Sweden broke the world record in the sport by competing in the pole vault final, and he celebrated the victory in the best way possible. Immediately after he landed on the mat, Armand made a bee line toward his girlfriend, Desiré Inglander, to make out with her.
Learn more about the Olympic champion below.
Armand’s Nickname Is ‘Mondo’
While his full name is Armand Gustav Duplantis, he goes by “Mondo.”
He Was Born in America
Although he competed for Team Sweden in multiple championships and the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games, Mondo was born in Lafayette, Louisiana. He also attended the local high school and Louisiana State University.
Mondo’s father is American, and his mother is Swedish. Like the Olympian, his parents and his three siblings are athletes as well. Mondo’s brother Andreas competed as a pole vaulter in the 2009 World Youth Championships, then at the 2012 World Junior Championships.
MONDO DUPLANTIS ENDS THE NIGHT WITH A NEW WORLD RECORD. 🌎 #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/0egeRdxphW
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 5, 2024
Mondo Has a Girlfriend
Most viewers tuning into the 2024 Olympics noticed that Mondo definitely has a girlfriend. After completing his vault in Paris, he sprinted toward Desiré, who is a model and a social media influencer. She celebrated her boyfriend’s epic win at the 2024 Olympics by sharing a video of him to her Instagram.
It’s still unclear when the two began dating, but according to Desiré’s Instagram, they went public with their romance in 2021. Since then, she has supported Mondo at his competitions.
He Tried Pole Vaulting at 3 Years Old
At just 3 years old, Mondo tried pole vaulting for the first time while he and his family were still living in Louisiana. He began competing shortly thereafter, and he currently holds the world’s best in the age groups of 7 to 12.
Mondo Broke the Pole Vault Record
During the 2024 Paris Olympics, Mondo broke the world record for the highest pole vault for the ninth time. He jumped 6.25 meters (which equates to over 20 feet).
Per the Associated Press, Mondo said it was “hard to understand,” how he had broken the world record multiple times throughout his athletic career.
“If I don’t beat this moment in my career, then I’m pretty OK with that,” he said. “I don’t think you can get much better than what just happened.”