PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Armand Duplantis is the world’s best pole vaulter right now.
It became possible thanks to Helena Duplanti’s decision to leave Sweden for the United States.
Now the mother reveals what she will do on the day “Mondo” retires.
She was born and raised in Avesta but has lived most of her life in the United States. Therefore was Helena Duplantis an unknown name in Swedish sports, even though she was once a promising all-rounder.
Mother Duplantis
The Swede went to the athletics high school in Falun and after graduation she got her big chance to take the next step in her career.
– When I graduated, I received a scholarship to study at college in Louisiana in the USA, Helena tells the newspaper Hemtrevligt in an interview.
The article continues after the picture.
It was there that she would meet and fall in love with the American pole vaulter Greg Duplantis. In 1999, they then had their son Armand Duplantis and two decades later they had succeeded in raising one of the greatest pole vaulters in history.
READ MORE: Beautiful gesture when Armand Duplantis broke a new world record – everyone is talking about what girlfriend Desiré did: “Love you”
Mondo’s career
“Mondo” chose his mother’s side and started competing for Sweden instead of his own home country, the USA. He then broke through with a bang and won his very first gold in EC 2018, as a mere 18-year-old.
The article continues after the picture.
Today, the 23-year-old Duplantis has won everything that can be won and broken world records several times over. Mother Helena and father Greg have trained their son throughout his career and together they have accomplished great deeds by writing Swedish sports history.
READ MORE: The secret behind Armand Duplanti’s great success – 77-year-old Gunilla emerges from the shadows: “It’s not easy”
Paying tribute to the mother
The father takes care of the technique training and the poles, while the mother is more focused on the physical training itself. The parents were deservedly named “Leader of the Year” at the Sports Gala 2021.
– My mother, I have never met anyone like my mother. She is the easiest person in the world to get along with. My father is more fiery, a bit like me. Especially when we argue. We often fall apart – in a good way, son Armand has said in an interview with Café.
Since Mondo moved to Sweden to focus more on his pole vaulting career, mother Helena has started commuting between her home country of Sweden and her current residence in the USA to help her son in the best possible way with training. Right now it is really busy, but she is also asked what happens on the day the world’s best pole vaulter – Armand Duplantis – retires.
– I haven’t actually thought about that. He is only 23 years old and can probably last another ten years. Then I’ll be 67. I guess I’ll have to take care of the grandchildren. I have already had my first grandchild, when they come to Sweden I am a babysitter. There is so much you can do in this life, I’ll probably come up with something the day I’m unemployed, says mother Duplantis to the newspaper Hemtrevligt.
How high can Armand Duplantis jump? Share the article and have your say!