Mondo Duplantis and the Jump that made him the greatest of all time

On August 5, 2024, Mondo Duplantis of Sweden (and Louisianna) set his ninth world record and his second Olympic record in an hour while winning the gold medal for the second time in Paris. This is Deji Ogeyingbo’s homage to his win in Paris!

Mondo Duplantis and the Jump that made him the greatest of all time

Armand Duplantis is flying without wings. Just a pole.

It is rather fitting, considering his significant sponsors are Red Bull, whose mantra is “Redbull gives you wings.” Yes, they did give Mondo wings, as he had over 80,000 people watching him as he attempted the impossible. Jump as high as any human has done in history.

One of the few one-name stars at these Olympics, Mondo was poised for another world record. He had set the last eight. The bar was set at 6.25 meters, and the fervent crowd at Stade de France was ready for the theater of an all-time great.

“MON-DO! Clap. Clap. MON-DO! Clap. Clap.”

Save for a brief challenge from American Sam Kendricks, Duplantis’ night held little suspense. On his first attempt at 6.25 meters, he was too far when he swung up, hitting the bar with his shin.

On the runway for his second attempt, the crowd again chanted, “MON-DO! Clap. Clap. MON-DO! Clap. Clap.” Despite the electric energy, Duplantis failed to clear the bar, making contact again. He was down to his third and final try.

Even Kendricks, now more a fan than a competitor, joined the exuberant crowd pulling for Mondo. As Duplantis readied himself for his third attempt, the stadium was ecstatic. This time, Duplantis didn’t need to lead the crowd in the progressive clap. They did it alone, their cheer propelling him down the runway. He planted, swung, and cleared the bar.

The stadium erupted. The roar was so loud it could rattle your spine. Mondo Duplantis had done it again, setting another world record. The greatest pole vaulter of all time had proven his inevitability.

Earlier, Duplantis had cleared 6.00 meters with ease, his body soaring so high above the bar you could fit a baguette between them. This visual cemented why he’s one of the few one-name stars at these Olympics. Mondo.

After setting the world record, Duplantis sprinted toward the crowd, embracing his girlfriend, Desiré Inglander, before posing with the other medalists. His performance at Stade de France on Monday was more than enough to secure gold in the men’s pole vault final.

Duplantis is a phenomenon. He’s won 19 straight competitions, his last loss coming in June 2023 at a Diamond League event in Monaco, where a hamstring injury hampered him. But even his less-than-best is often good enough. His win on Monday makes it 30 victories in his last 31 competitions.

He became the first back-to-back Olympic gold medalist in pole vault since American Bob Richards, who won in 1952 and 1956. Duplantis and Richards are now the only two with two Olympic golds in the event.

Sam Kendricks, the only American to make the Olympic final, took silver to add to his bronze from Rio 2016. Despite missing the Tokyo Games due to COVID-19, Kendricks made history by becoming the 11th pole vaulter with multiple Olympic medals and the third American to do so.

Duplantis’ childhood idol, Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie, is among the multiple-medalists. At just 25, Mondo Duplantis has already cemented his legacy as the greatest pole vaulter in history. His story is one of relentless pursuit, inevitable triumph, and unparalleled greatness.

Duplantis is now responsible for 63 of the 191 jumps of at least six meters. Nine of the top 10 jumps in history are his, with only Renaud Lavillenie’s 6.16m effort from 2014 interrupting the pattern.

All this means he ends up in two competitions: having to beat everyone else first, then getting to target the world record. Whereas others might build up from their competition-winning height to the world record, Duplantis goes straight for it.

This is greatness.