“I daydreamed about it at school all the time, about when I was going to get home and jump,” said Armand “Mondo” Duplantis. “I feel like, from a pretty early age, I figured out this is what I was going to do.” And what has he done? Between February 8, 2020, and June 15, 2025, he has rewritten the men’s pole vault world record 12 times, each time raising the bar by a single centimeter. The current mark stands at 6.28 meters. Before him, no one had ever dominated the event with such consistency. But do these achievements make him complacent? 

No, the 25-year-old has no intention of slowing down. On July 5, he’ll line up at the Prefontaine Classic once again, aiming for another big mark in the pole vault. He skipped the meet last year, but in 2023, he lit up the same venue with a towering 6.23m performance. Could that serve as inspiration this time around? Possibly. But ahead of the competition, he was reminded of a remarkable statistic.

On July 3, Mondo Duplantis faced the media ahead of the Prefontaine Classic. He discussed a range of topics during the press conference, but one moment stood out—one that he brought up himself. “I got a call from my grandfather,” Mondo said. “He said, ‘Hey Mondo, I know you don’t need me to tell you what to say, but in your interview at the Pre-Classic, I think you needed to get in the fact that your dad won it in 92.’” The room burst into applause, and Mondo responded with a smile. While major meets often overwhelm athletes with pressure, Mondo seemed to embrace the moment with ease.

For Mondo Duplantis, pole vaulting is practically part of his DNA. Introduced to the sport by his father, Greg Duplantis, he began vaulting at just 3 years old, experimenting with a backyard setup at their home in Lafayette. And when it comes to Hayward Field, the venue holds special meaning for him. During the same press conference, the two-time Olympic champion shared, “It’s a really good place to jump. I’ve jumped really high here, past like two times I’ve been here.” In fact, he even ranked the stadium above any in Europe, though he couldn’t quite explain why. “I don’t even really know how to explain it. I don’t look into it that much,” he said. “I just take it as it is and just enjoy it.” So, could a 13th world record be on the horizon?

Mondo Duplantis is keeping his eyes on the sky 

Just three weeks ago, Mondo Duplantis etched his name into the record books once again, clearing 6.28 meters to reset the men’s pole vault world record for the 12th time. But even that towering achievement wasn’t enough to satisfy him. His eyes are fixed on greater heights.

Reflecting on his performance after the meet, Duplantis made his intentions clear: “I’m going to keep pushing forward like always. I’m going to jump higher. I’m just going to enjoy this, enjoy the moment right now. There’s not much between me and 6.30, technically. It’s just a few centimeters. I’m just a perfect day away from it.” The challenge grows with every centimeter, but so does Duplantis’ resolve.  “It gets a little tougher as it gets higher though. I think technically, physically, and everything like that I am right there.” 

If the athlete clears 6.30 meters, World Athletics will owe him another $100,000—a price the sport’s governing body should be ready to pay, and pay again. Because for Mondo, 6.30 is just another milestone, not the final destination. His true ambition? A jaw-dropping 6.40 meters. “I’d like to get to 6.40 meters,” he said. “That would be another crazy barrier of course and that also feels like in the realm of possibility for me.” In a sport where millimeters define history, Mondo Duplantis is reaching for the impossible—and making it look inevitable.