If there’s one athlete who’s been pushing the limits of what’s possible—and making it look easy—it’s Mondo Duplantis. Every time he steps onto the runway, there’s a moment where the world holds its breath… and then he just floats. The 25-year-old Swedish pole vault phenom has turned a niche event into must-watch magic, pushing the limits of human flight with every meet. And after his gravity-defying gold medal performance in Paris, he broke the world record and cleared 6.25 meters—it was clear: Mondo wasn’t just chasing greatness. He was setting the standard. But recognition was a must. Right?

And now? The world’s officially caught up. Duplantis has been named the 2025 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year. And guess what? In doing so, he beat out a stacked lineup that included Carlos Alcaraz, Leon Marchand, Tadej Pogacar, and Max Verstappen. That’s not just a win—it’s a statement. In a year where legends were made on tennis courts, in the pool, across brutal cycling stages, and behind the wheel at 200 mph, it was the pole vault runway that produced the ultimate champion.

Mondo Duplantis isn’t just the king of the air—he’s now the best in the world, period. And this all came after his “March” performance, where he broke records. Back in early March, Mondo Duplantis did it again, and then, he took things to a whole new level. At the All-Star Perche in Clermont-Ferrand, France, the 25-year-old pole vaulting legend broke his world record for the 11th time, soaring to a jaw-dropping 6.27 meters.

But here’s the thing—he made it look ridiculously easy. Like, the guy just casually cleared 5.65m, 5.91m, 6.02m, and 6.07m on his first try. That’s how it’s done when you’re in a league of your own. At that time, Emmanouil Karalis secured a second-place position for Greece by establishing a national record at 6.02m despite his opponent Mondo Duplantis’ world-class performance.

The competition stood beyond comparison when Mondo stepped into it. Mondo eclipsed his competition by clearing the jump 25 centimeters higher than everyone else could manage. He increased the bar by 20 centimeters after securing his victory before leaping over it on his first attempt. The crowd? Going wild. Fireworks? You bet. The day became even more special as Mondo Duplantis released his first single, “Bop,” while he set the record.

Since the beginning of his World Record in February 2020, Duplantis has continued advancing by one centimeter at a time toward his upcoming World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China. He lifts the standard beyond its previous limits by showing what new possibilities can exist. He received his first-ever Laureus award at this special moment, having progressed through many years of dedication and persistence following the difficult times since 2021.

Mondo Duplantis overcomes struggles to claim his Laureus glory

From 2021, Mondo Duplantis has pursued the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year title with the same persistence as he displays in the pole vault. Mondo Duplantis earned his first Laureus World Sportsman nomination when he achieved two pole vault world record breakthroughs at 6.17 meters in Poland before proceeding to set a record at 6.18 meters during the Glasgow event.

Mondo continued his championship journey in 2023 after establishing three new world records, which peaked at 6.21 meters at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon. Following his World Championship gold victory, he received his second nomination for the Laureus Award in 2024 after achieving a new world record of 6.23 meters at Eugene.

The Laureus trophy continued to evade him even after committing all these remarkable athletic performances. Then, in 2025, the impossible became possible. Mondo finally claimed his first-ever Laureus award, and it felt like a victory for the entire sport. “I feel incredibly honored to have won my first Laureus World Sportsman Award in the sporting metropolis of Madrid and to be honored by the great Usain Bolt, whom I emulate as the second athlete to win this award,” Mondo said, totally humbled by the honor.

And to top it off, the award was presented to him by none other than tennis legend Novak Djokovic, who had taken home the trophy the year before. Mondo Duplantis reflected on the massive achievement, saying, “I’m following in the footsteps of giants like Novak Djoković, Usain, Rafael Nadal, and Lionel Messi. The list of previous award winners is like a history of sporting greatness over the past 25 years.” But Mondo wasn’t the only star lighting up the night.

Gymnast Simone Biles bagged her fourth Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award, tying the record set by Serena Williams. Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade was awarded Comeback of the Year after defying all odds, including three torn cruciate ligaments, to win Olympic gold in Paris. It was a night to remember, and Mondo Duplantis stood tall among legends who’ve redefined what’s possible.