Mondo Duplantis took over Paris during the Olympic pole vault, and let me tell you, he knocked it out of the park. On August 5, this 24-year-old sensation cleared an insane 6.25 meters—yep, that’s 20.5 feet—on his final vault, setting a world record that had the crowd at Stade de France cheering his name like never before. It was a moment, especially since Mondo just topped his own world record of 6.24 meters set earlier that year. When it comes to pulling off these high-flying feats, Duplantis stands head and shoulders above the rest.

With two Olympic golds, two indoor world titles, and two outdoor world championships, Mondo’s resume is the stuff of legends. He even made history as the first male pole vaulter since Bob Richards to win back-to-back Olympic golds. Fast forward to December 1, and he is officially named Male Field Athlete of the Year by World Athletics. But here’s the thing: while Mondo’s the one soaring through the air, his success is as much about his parents as it is about his hard work.

No pressure, just freedom to thrive

Mondo Duplantis owes so much to his parents, who supported him all through and never pressured him into it. This boy started to break world records at the age of seven; he started with 2.33-meter jumps, but his parents did not immediately continue to develop their son only in the framework of this direction. Instead, they put up a playground in the backyard so that Mondo could experience shooting hoops, and yet he wasn’t confined to only that.

“We did a lot of sports until I was about 15,” Mondo says. “I played baseball just as much as pole vault. Soccer, too.” Mondo says. I was able to play baseball as much as I was able to pole vault. Soccer, too.” His brother Antoine was not a fan of flying and didn’t take to pole vaulting, but that was fine since he could play baseball, and that suited his parents just fine too.

Even in the end, it has been a satisfying year for Mondo; he can objectively identify his parents’ approach as one of the important factors that played a part. He was free to grow at his own rate instead of having the pressure and force to go extra hard or fast and lose his drive. “It’s always a competition within yourself,” he says when asked how he motivates himself.

Now, he intends to jump 6.30 meters, and needless to say, with his parents supporting him all the time, you can only expect that he will keep on going to higher heights. They have always been there for him, allowing him to pursue his goals, and from the looks of things, that support propelled him forward. But Mondo Duplantis’s parents know all of this because both were into sports, which is the reason that helped Mondo to develop.

Mondo Duplantis’ family secrets led him to break world records

15 competitions, 15 wins. The Olympic Games, World Indoor Championships, and European Championships titles. And if that was not enough, three world records. This year, Armand “Mondo” Duplantis performed at a level that has eluded a lot of athletes, most probably due to fear. However, this is not the story of the success that started just when he appeared in the global arena. Born in the United States to a Swedish mother, Helena, a former heptathlete and volleyball player, and a father, Greg, a pole vaulter, Mondo’s journey appeared rather preordained. Sports were in their blood. “It just came so naturally,” says his mother, Helena. “He always told me that pole vault is so easy. For him, it is.”

Helena Duplantis was involved in sports way before Mondo was born. Born in Sweden, she was influenced by athletics from her childhood, and her father, Lars-Ake, used to head a local track club and compete in pole vault well into his 70s. Helena, herself, did great representing Sweden in the heptathlon, and in her personal records, she turned out a great athlete. She came for her studies in the United States to Louisiana State University, where she met Greg, another pole vaulter. They moved to the U.S. and had four children for whom athletics appeared to come naturally. “It was just so natural for all of them,” Helena recalls. “We were lucky they all liked sports. For Mondo, it was like second nature.”

Mondo’s father, Greg Duplantis, was an All-SEC pole vaulter and also Mondo’s technical coach. For Mondo, though, it’s not just the coaching; he is glad his parents are on the stand every step of the way. “It’s amazing to experience everything with my parents as coaches,” Mondo said. “We do it in such a healthy way.” For him, it is not only about the victories, statistics, and global achievements; it is about it being done as a family.

And then there’s his mom, Helena. Mondo makes it clear that she doesn’t get enough credit. “I think it’s amazing to be able to experience everything with my parents as coaches,” he says. For Mondo, it’s never just about the titles or the accolades. It’s about the support and love his family has always given him. “For me, it’s all about the journey,” he says. “Having her (mother) there makes everything so much more meaningful.” And for Mondo, there’s no bigger victory than sharing these moments with his family—because, at the end of the day, they’ve been with him through it all.