by Alfonz JuckIt was going to happen. Especially after Mondo won the European Athletics Outdoor Championships last summer in Berlin. He cleared 6.00 meters and 6.05 meters in that Championships.
one of the few athletes ever to have more than one T&FN cover in a year! For August issue it’s @mondohoss600 pic.twitter.com/TP90vgA9XH
— Track and Field News (@tandfn) August 23, 2018
Here’s the truth, as I see it.
Mondo Duplantis is a special young man. Like his brother, Antoine, he is a most talented athlete. Both were nurtured at home, and alllowed to develop naturally. In 2016, when I observed Mondo at the Pre Classic, I spent some time meeting his father, his mother and his family friends. It was obvious that this young man was special, and that his talents come once in a generation. I also watched how Sam Kendricks and especially Renaud Lavillenie spoke to him, and assisted him.
Don’t misunderstand me. Mondo Duplantis is European champion, and he is also a young adult, who will have to deal with the accolades given to a sports genius. Duplantis is like Lavillenie and Bubka. The difference, this young man could be around for three or four Olympics.
And now, PUMA, the brand that got Usain Bolt, has signed Mondo Duplantis. How will they use him? They did not seem to have a plan when using Usain Bolt.
In Europe, Mondo Duplantis , is a rock star. In Sweden, he is huge, and he has been quite popular in the US.
What will all of this mean?
Good things for the sport of athletics.
With Noah Lyles, Christian Coleman, Micheal Norman, Aleia Hobbs, Sydney McLaughlin, Mondo Duplantis gives us a future generation of new amazing stars and that does not even include Grant Holloway….
Mondo Duplantis cleared 6.00m on 11 May 2019.
MONDO RONDO GIVES US THE TEAM LEAD BY SETTING THE COLLEGIATE RECORD (6.00m/19′ 8.25″)#SCtop10 #GeauxTigers pic.twitter.com/U3Ldi3gdZB
— LSU Track & Field (@LSUTrackField) May 12, 2019
Mondo Duplantis took second in NCAA Champs in upset. Noted on social media that he had some decisions to make. June 5, 2019.
Duplantis, the 19-year-old phenom ranked as the world’s top vaulter, told reporters after suffering the first loss of his college career in the NCAA championships Wednesday night that he’ll sit down and talk with his family about his future. https://t.co/2NetAgQpGR
— The Advocate (@theadvocatebr) June 6, 2019
Mondo Duplantis says goodbye to LSU, wants to pursue pro career and Doha 2019 and Tokyo 2020, June 10, 2019
Friendships and memories to last a lifetime. #foreverlsu #borntofly pic.twitter.com/LjNBx7Oalo
— Mondo Duplantis (@mondohoss600) June 10, 2019
Duplantis goes pro
DES MOINES (USA): Sweden’s European pole vault champion Armand Duplantis has announced he has gone professional and has signed a contract with Puma. “I don’t want to sound like a cliché, but being part of the Puma family is a dream come true. It’s a perfect fit because Usain Bolt is the greatest ever to live, and I’m not saying that I’m him, but following in his steps is an amazing opportunity. I’m honoured that Puma trusted me to represent the brand, I’ll do everything it takes to make them proud,” he said in a press release sent out by PUMA. Duplantis cleared a US collegiate record of 6.00m in May but was surprisingly beaten at the NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas.
