The past year has been a rollercoaster for Armand Duplantis.  He is a Swedish pole vaulter.  He has always been a big name in track and field.  But, this year, he really shot to fame.  He broke his own world record.  He won his second Olympic gold medal.  He got engaged to his long-time girlfriend.  He even released a music single.  This was a lot to take in for the 25-year-old.

He was recognized at the Laureus World Sports Awards.  He won the Sportsman of the Year award.  He was only the second track and field athlete to win this award.  The first was Usain Bolt.  Duplantis said he had a "life-changing" year.  He also said there is more to come.

He is confident he can jump even higher.  He wants to break more records.  He is aiming for the 6. 30m mark.  That is roughly 20. 67 feet.  He wants to make a big splash at the 2028 Olympic Games in LA.

Duplantis is one of only three men to hold the pole vault world record in the 21st century.  He has set 11 world records since 2020.  He has raised the bar from 6. 17m to 6. 27m over five seasons.  He broke his own world record in February.  This was the 11th time he has done so.

He went from top-level athlete to global superstar at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.  He broke the world record of 6. 25m on his third and final attempt.  He needed just one attempt to break the record again in February.  He gained a large amount of followers on social media.  He also proposed to his girlfriend Desiré Inglander.  They had a photoshoot for Vogue Scandinavia in October last year.  He admits that the added attention has made him think about his place in the sporting world.  He wants pole vaulting to stand on its own.  He tries to stay grounded.

Duplantis has won two Olympic titles and two world championships.  He has also won plenty of other accolades.  He admits that the trophies he’s earning won’t be something he can fully appreciate until he’s hung up the pole.  He says that while his last 12 months look perfect "on paper, " it was the result of plenty of "ups and downs. "  He had a lackluster start to the season.  But, he says that this is what pushed him to perform so well in the outdoor season.  He had a bit of a lackluster start to the season.  He was not where he wanted to be.  But, he says that this is what pushed him to perform so well in the outdoor season.  He has a run of 28 straight victories.

Duplantis has also found time to enjoy other aspects of his life.  He beat 400-meter hurdle sensation Karsten Warholm in an exhibition 100-meter race.  He finished the race in an impressive 10. 37 seconds.  He is keen to try other races at different lengths in the future.  He has also released his debut single "Bop. "  Music has long been a passion for Duplantis.  He was in a choir as a youngster.  He spent many hours in the studio in Sweden.  He fell back into music about three years ago.  He set about dabbling in creating his own music.  He released "Bop" on the same day as his most recent world record in February.  The song was played over the stadium’s speakers as he made his record-breaking jump.  He admits to being "quite nervous" when the song was released.  He says there is "more to come. "

MUSIC DEBUT

The Year of the Pole Vault King

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