Mondo Duplantis
Mondo Duplantis has been named the Association of International Sports Press (AIPS) Athlete of the Year for 2025 (also 2024). At the AIPS press conference, he reflected on his year and the award
Thoughts on the 2025 World Cup?
Well, it was a very long and tiring competition, I would say. And, usually for us, these contests last more than three hours. And this was especially difficult this year because Emmanuel Karalis, the Greek athlete was jumping so well and he pushed harder and harder. He jumped all the way up to 6.20 which is very unusual. That has never happened to me. I’ve never had anyone push me so hard and fly so long with me. So that was a few more jumps on higher bars than I’d ever really had to do prior to the world record. And so I had to dig deep, and I really had to find some extra gear inside of me because I was getting a little tired by the end. But I just felt like, “I’ve done that a few times.” I think I had a little bit of a similar situation that probably helped me a lot in Tokyo with Stockholm where I didn’t really feel like it was the most perfect day for me physically or what I was just feeling in my body and all that. So I just tried to really, really, really, really kind of lock in my feet and get the best jump out of me that I could, whether it was just through this crazy hard visualization or just focusing on something small to make everything as fluid as possible. I think on the last try I dug really deep and got everything I could out of me.
Must be special to be athlete of the year twice in a row?
It’s incredible, honestly. I am truly grateful. So thank you to everyone who voted for me in this appeal, showing me love and support. I’m just really grateful. I try my best to always be the best version of myself that I can be. Ever since I was a little kid, three years old, jumping in my parent’s yard, it was just me and my dad going out there and jumping. I had these huge dreams that one day I could be the best in the world and I could just break the barriers of what’s possible in our sport. I never thought any of this would come and I never thought I could win crazy titles and crazy awards like this. But I really appreciate it. Really, just thank you, sincerely.
Last year we were talking about the possibility of 6.30. Now you have 6:30. What’s next? Because the problem is that the next big step is 6.40.
It’s coming, I think. The natural progression of things would probably take you a few steps to get to 6.40, but I think I’m definitely on my way. I feel like I’ve shown myself physically and technically as well that 6.40 bars is very possible. It’s not something that I would say will just happen automatically, magically. Probably not even in 2026, but it’s something I have within my reach for my career. And then we’ll see. I’m just going to try to keep pushing it one at a time and see where I can get. And basically, that’s where my mind is right now. I don’t think too far into the future, honestly, less than you might imagine, I think a lot of one season. Right now I’m in the off season which starts at the end of February. I’m just going to have a short and sweet three match closed season. And for me, that’s really the only thing I worry about and focus on. And I just go from there. I’ll just see if I can pull one up first and then we just keep pushing.
Yes, but so far we’ve used a 5.20 pole. Do you think I should use a 5.25 or other pole and grip higher to go 6.40, or is the pole you have now sufficient?
Maybe, maybe. There should probably be a few inches of high grip. You will have a slightly stiffer pole. But it’s going to require a few things on my part, like more speed, more efficient power transfer from takeoff, run to takeoff, and I’m just doing things like that. So I just have to get a little better that way. And just really at the end of the day, just physically is the most important thing. Just trying to put as much energy into the poles as possible. and to flight. So that will allow me to grip a little higher or use a little stiffer bars, and those in turn will throw me higher in the air.
If you were to choose the best athlete of 2025, instead of yourself, who would you choose?
Yes! that’s a good question maybe Carlos Alcaraz. I choose him or her Jannik Sinner I’ve been watching a little bit of tennis this year, historically I haven’t watched that much tennis, but this year I’ve just been watching it more. I really enjoyed watching them battle it out every day, which was one of my favorite things of the year. I think Alcaraz. Honestly speaking. I think that’s how we have my vote. So, because he’s a great guy and a great tennis player. I love watching him.
