When Sha’Carri Richardson called Mondo Duplantis “my Mondo” last year, it was the moment the world realized just how close these two track and field superstars truly are! Their bond has only grown stronger with time since 2018, and now they’re back together, showing everyone that some connections are truly built to last. Recently, Mondo and Richardson got a chance to meet again.

Well, Mondo Duplantis hit the nail on the head this summer when he broke the world record in the pole vault with a vault of 20 feet 6 inches, reaching for the stars in a way that few can even imagine. Meanwhile, Sha’Carri, another LSU track legend, tore up the track at the World Championships, bringing home gold in the women’s 4×100 relay and silver in the 100-meter dash. Both athletes continue to carry the flag for LSU, proving that their hard work has truly paid off and putting the university on the map in the global spotlight.

On November 11, 2024, Sha’Carri Richardson and Mondo Duplantis made a special return to LSU to be recognized alongside 22 Olympians. Both stood out for their amazing achievements—Mondo for setting the pole vault world record and Sha’Carri for her World Championship win. It was a proud moment for LSU, seeing these two athletes who have come so far, reminding everyone of the hard work and dedication it takes to reach the top.

That same day, Mondo, who turned 25, shared a series of photos on Instagram to mark the occasion. One showed him on the ground, another with Sha’Carri Richardson and Vernon Norwood, and a third with his fiancee, Desire Inglander, as they shared a tender moment together. Mondo simply captioned it with “25.”

However, a few days earlier, Mondo reflected on his and Sha’Carri’s journey: “We also both had huge dreams, and we knew that we could be in the situation that we are today, but everything happened in the way that it has, and we actually are doing what we always [hoped], manifesting what we could do.” But here’s the thing to ponder. Considering Sha’Carri’s brief tenure at LSU for a year, how did she and Mondo develop such a friendship bond?

Inside the unstoppable friendship between Sha’Carri Richardson and Mondo Duplantis

Richardson and Mondo Duplantis formed an easygoing bond when they first met at LSU in 2018 as freshmen despite their different athletic disciplines: Sha’Carri in sprint events and Mondo in pole vault competitions. Their shared determination to excel fostered a quick connection that deepened as they progressed through college and pursued their respective careers. They have always been by each other’s side and provided support for each other both during races and in their lives.

What’s really special about their friendship is how they’ve always shared the same big dreams. Both were NCAA champions, with Sha’Carri Richardson snagging ‘The Bowerman’ trophy in 2019 and Mondo being a finalist for it that same year. Reflecting on the past brings a sense of nostalgia to Mondo when recalling their college years: “I think it’s a little bit of a surreal situation because time is weird.”

They were aware of their aspirations in those early days but never could have imagined the extent of their accomplishments. As Mondo put it, “We also both had huge dreams, and we knew that we could be in the situation that we are in today, but everything happened in the way that it has, and we actually are doing what we always [hoped], manifesting what we could do.”

What really stands out is the way they’ve always supported each other through everything. As Sha’Carri Richardson said, “one of my favorite people in life,” and that’s clear whenever you see them together. From their time at LSU to the spotlight of the world stage, their connection continues to flourish with each passing moment.