When you have won everything by the age of 22, the only thing really left to do is have fun.
And after his latest world record, which secured a clean sweep of global medals, Armand Duplantis says “the crazy rush of emotions” led to an unexpected celebration.
“I don’t remember the last time I did a front flip,” Duplantis, widely known as ‘Mondo’, told BBC World Service. “It definitely wasn’t a planned celebration.”
Crowned Olympic champion at 21, Sweden’s pole vault star is the reigning world and European champion both indoors and outdoors.
Since breaking Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie’s world record in February 2020 he has gone on to improve his own leading mark a further four times.
The latest, that scarcely believable, front flip-inspiring clearance of 6.21m, delivered world gold in Eugene last summer.
“It was such a special moment in the way that everything came together,” Duplantis said. “It was the World Championships and I was the only person on the track. I’m the show in that moment.”
He added: “When it happened there was this crazy rush of emotions and you don’t know what to do with it.
“You just have to release it somehow and the flip just kind of happened. It would have sucked if I hadn’t landed it. Luckily it worked out OK.”
