On the 12th of August 2025, Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis made history once again by breaking the pole vault record for the 13th time at the Hungarian Grand Prix, clearing an astonishing 6.29 metres.

But why is the Swedish-American superstar breaking world records, one centimetre at a time?

Vaulting from the Yard to the World Stage

Armand Duplantis, nicknamed ‘Mondo’ by an Italian family friend as a child, means ‘World’ in Italian. This fitting nickname is apt for his remarkable feats, which have brought pole vaulting to the global spotlight.

Mondo, born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana, inherited sporting stardom from his parents. His father was a former pole vaulter himself, while his mother was a former heptathlete and volleyball player.

While most kids had basketball nets in their backyards, Mondo had a unique pole vault setup. Under the watchful eye of his father, who remains his coach to this day, Mondo’s fascination with the sport evolved into an obsession.

At the age of seven, Duplantis set his first age-group world best, jumping 3.86m. He went on to break the record in his age group for the following six years.

In 2018, he improved the world indoor junior record by jumping 5.88m. He went even further when he reached 6.05m at the 2018 European Athletics Championships, tying him for the fourth-best height in history.

It was only a matter of time before he toppled the senior men’s world record. That moment arrived on February 8th, 2020, when he cleared an astonishing 6.17m at the World Athletics Indoor Tour meeting in Torun, Poland, breaking the great Renaud Lavillenie’s previous record of 6.16m, which had stood since 2014.

Mondo’s Leap of Loyalty: Sweden Over the USA

Since Mondo Duplantis has dual citizenship, many questioned why he chose to compete for Sweden over the USA. However, he hasn’t shied away from the fact that he was drawn to Sweden’s popularity of track and field, which he compared to the way American football and baseball are seen in the United States.

By choosing Sweden, Duplantis was able to start competing at a younger age. Sweden doesn’t have the same age restrictions on competing at the highest levels of the sport as the United States. Additionally, Sweden selects its Olympians based on their overall performance over several years, rather than an all-or-nothing Olympic trial.

Sweden also offered to let Mondo’s father, Greg Duplantis, coach him on the Swedish team. The same offer was not made by the U.S. team.

Pole vaulting is more lucrative financially in Sweden. It’s a popular sport, and Mondo Duplantis is a national superstar. Swedes regard him with the same respect as their country’s best football players, and this is reflected in the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award he received this year, which recognises his significant impact on the broader sports landscape.

Why Mondo Keeps Raising the Bar Just 1cm Higher

While no one can definitively say it’s a tactical decision, other than the man himself, it does make a lot of sense to chip away at the history books.

Athletes who break world records at certain world athletic meetings receive bonuses of up to $100,000, as well as competition awards. This incentive may have led Duplantis to discover a loophole that allows him to break each record ever so slightly, while simultaneously banking the rewards.

The only restriction is that athletes can receive bonuses once per event, per year. This means there’s not much incentive for him to break his record at the same competition multiple times. Instead, he decides to jump a centimetre higher each time, knowing he can then work on clearing even larger heights in training for different events in the future.

This tactic also offers other non-financial benefits.

With each world record, Mondo’s brand and popularity grow exponentially. He is a fan favourite, and he currently boasts an impressive 1.4 million followers on Instagram, another unbeaten record for a pole vaulter. Surprisingly, in February 2025, he released his debut single, “Bop,” on the same day he set his eleventh world record at All Star Perche in Paris. Some would say he’s a master of all trades.

Mondo’s achievements on and off the track have transcended the sport, captivating audiences worldwide. Everyone is eager to discover his limits, to witness how high he can soar. With each vault, the tension builds, and the hype skyrockets. He is a charismatic character, and his pure emotion and devotion can be felt through the screen every time he sets a new personal milestone.

Not only has he increased his own popularity, but he has also increased the popularity of pole vault and athletics in general. The discipline is now a regular feature of the mainstream media, and broadcasters, publications, and journalists are reporting on pole vaulting more than ever before.

While you may disagree with his world record approach, his legacy to push the boundaries of what is possible in the sport is likely to inspire his competitors and future generations to reach new heights.