Breaking records, Olympic gold and a music debut: Mondo Duplantis talks exclusively with CNN about ‘life-changing’ year

The last 12 months have been a whirlwind for Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis, but as he exclusively tells CNN Sports, there’s “more to come.”

The last 12 months have been a whirlwind for Armand “Mondo” Duplantis. Having already been one of the most recognizable faces in track and field, the Swedish pole-vaulter catapulted himself to even greater heights in a remarkable year for the 25-year-old. Not only did he break his own world record to win his second Olympic gold medal in Paris last summer, but he became engaged to his long-time girlfriend and also has made his first foray in the music scene with a debut single. His achievements were recognized at last month’s Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid, winning the Sportsman of the Year award to become just the second track and field athlete to do so after Usain Bolt. And after what he calls a “life-changing” year, Duplantis says there is more to come. “I do still have that confidence that going into (the 2028 Olympic Games) in LA, I’m going to be in even better shape. I can jump even higher,” Duplantis told CNN Sports in an exclusive interview. “I’m going to do something just like that, make a big splash, can maybe break a record again and something like that.”