Armand Duplanti’s great joy – winning the prestigious award for the sixth(!) time: “Means a lot”

Armand Duplantis continues to collect awards.
The pole vault giant is Sweden’s track and field athlete of the year – for the sixth time.
– It means a lot to me, says Mondo.

Admittedly, there was no Jerring prize for Armand Duplantis, as he finished second in the voting after Ebba Andersson. But Mondo still did not leave the Sports Gala empty-handed when he was awarded Male Athlete of the Year. And now he is praised again.

Winning for the sixth time

Armand Duplantis comes from a fabulous 2023, when he not only won WC gold, but also broke two new world records. Duplantis continues to raise the bar for what is possible to jump in the pole vault, but he had tough competition for the Swedish Athlete of the Year award, especially from Daniel Ståhl.

Ståhl also won WC gold, and not by any means. But it was Armand Duplantis who claimed Swedish athletics’ finest prize – for the sixth time in his career.

– This award means a lot to me. I try not to take any award for granted. Last season was great for me so I’m very grateful. It is a great honor, says Duplantis to Expressen.

Paying tribute to Daniel Ståhl

For Armand Duplantis, it was not obvious, and he is clear in pointing out that what Daniel Ståhl did was not something that happens every year.

– No, because the performance that Daniel did at the WC was absolutely sick. Doing it on the last throw and all… it was freezing. There will always be tough competition from Daniel and especially this year. Therefore, it is an even greater honor, he says.

For Duplantis, 2023 was a big year, but he has seen better…

– It was a great year. At the same time, it is difficult to beat 2022, then I did everything you could do. I broke world records at the WC outdoors and indoors. But I’m not going to complain, I’m happy with 2023. I’m grateful for the year and for the prize. Now I look ahead, he says.