This year, Duplantis smashed three world records in the pole vault (two indoors and one outdoors). “That felt really great,” he said. “Since they postponed the Olympics and the European Championships, basically, my own goal for the outdoor season was to break the 6.15 meter mark. I had my goals set on that. I wanted to be the highest vaulter outdoors since I already had the highest vaults indoors. I wanted to surpass Sergey Bubka and all that. It was really cool once I accomplished that.”
“Confidence is a huge thing in pole vaulting,” he added. “When you are able to show yourself that you are able to do something or get close to it, you just know that it really gives you confidence going into that next meet or that next week. In pole vault, you can control your own destiny.”
On winning the 2020 “World Male Athlete of the Year” Award, Duplantis remarked, “That was pretty cool. I wasn’t thinking about it that much really especially during the season. I was just thinking about the next meet. Once I found out that I won it, it was such a huge honor.”
Duplantis was the youngest ever winner of the prestigious “World Male Athlete of the Year” Award in athletics.
He was also proud of his parents, Helena (trainer) and Greg Duplantis (coach), who were both honored with the “Coaching Achievement Award.” “That was really special for me, especially since they have been my coaches my entire life,” he admitted. “To see them get the recognition that they deserve is just the cherry on top of that whole award show.”
Duplantis is looking forward to the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, where he has his sights set high, eyeing the gold medal. “The Olympics is what I dreamed about ever since I was a little kid,” he said. “Now, I have a shot and if I am at my best, then I can possibly come away with the gold medal. I definitely want the Olympics just to happen, first off, and I will try to come away on top of that podium.”
He expressed his appreciation for his fans all over the world. “The amount of love and support that they have been giving me is pretty overwhelming, especially after the world record, and that has been really special to see,” he said. “I want to continue to give my best every time to make the fans proud. I have some good things in store.”
On the title of the current chapter of his life, Duplantis responded, “Moving Day.” “Right now, I am in the ‘moving day’ stage of my career,” he said. “There are so many great things that I still want to achieve. From here, it’s just about showing everybody what I can do.”
Duplantis defined the word success as “a mentality.” “It just depends on the big goals that you have in mind (such as Olympics and world records), but now, I also have little successes each and every day whether it’s training or recovery or spending time with family and working on relationships. Now, I am starting to appreciate the little things in life that I may have looked over a couple of years back,” he said.
“Success is appreciating the things that I have and really making sure that I am getting better in every aspect of my life,” he added.
To learn more about world-renowned pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis, follow him on Instagram and on Twitter.
MALE WORLD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR! ✨
Mondo Duplantis is crowned Male Athlete of the Year at the 2020 #WorldAthleticsAwards
Congratulations @mondohoss600 pic.twitter.com/Kk7YX0P6do
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) December 5, 2020
