Mondo Duplantis could hardly have imagined it—sharing the same stage that once belonged to the lightning-fast Usain Bolt. But come April, and that’s exactly what happened in Madrid, where the pole vault king claimed his first Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award. After back-to-back nominations in 2023 and 2024, the Swedish-American star finally broke through in 2025, becoming only the second track and field athlete to receive the prestigious honor. The first? None other than Usain Bolt himself, who won the award four times—in 2009, 2010, 2013, and 2017. Of course, Duplantis didn’t let that moment pass without tribute.
“I am incredibly honored to have won my first Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award in the sporting capital of Madrid and to have the great Usain Bolt pay tribute to me, who I follow as the second track and field athlete to win this award,” the two-time Olympic champion said during his acceptance speech. With two Olympic golds to his name and the world record bar pushed ever higher, Mondo may already seem like Bolt’s natural heir in the sport. But now, something even more unexpected could unite these two global icons.
Music, it seems, is the secret sauce bringing the two together.
On June 12, fresh off his performance at the Oslo Diamond League, Mondo opened up in a Citius Mag interview about a surprising shared passion: music. As it turns out, both he and Bolt have dabbled with instruments and production. When asked if he’d ever considered a musical collaboration with the Jamaican legend, Mondo lit up at the idea. “I never really even talked to him about that because I haven’t seen him since then. That would be a cool collab, actually. I have some great people in Stockholm that he can meet too, that we can cook up something with. So, you gave me a good idea.” So, could the world’s greatest pole vaulter and the fastest man in history team up for a track of a different kind? If Mondo has his way, the beat might just drop soon. The stars seem to be aligning…
How, you ask? Well, in Oslo, under the lights of the Bislett Stadium, something special unfolded—not just in the pole vault pit, but in the stands too. For the first time since 2017, Usain Bolt, the eight-time Olympic champion, made a rare public appearance at a top-tier athletics meet. And Mondo Duplantis noticed.
The reigning pole vault king, fresh off another world-class performance, couldn’t hide his excitement about having the track and field legend back in the mix. “I met him a few times now and chatted with him a bit. He’s a great guy. It’s so nice to see him kind of in the mix a little bit and come back to attract me. Being back, kind of in a way, showing his face again, I think that’s so good for the sport, so good for everybody. Always nice to have him around. He’s by far the most impactful track and field athlete that we’ve ever had. Always great to have him in the mix, especially here in Oslo,” Mondo said. So, when is Duplantis going to have his way?
The pole vaulter concluded, saying, “He’s [Usain Bolt] going to be in Stockholm too.” So, will it be Stockholm where the final words will be shared? They’re keeping us guessing. However, on the other hand, Mondo has been doing what he does best.
Mondo Duplantis sets another meet record
On June 12, Mondo Duplantis delivered yet another jaw-dropping performance—his third straight win on the Diamond League circuit this season. But in Oslo, he didn’t just win—he elevated the standard.
Under the iconic lights of the Bislett Stadium, the Swedish superstar soared over 6.15 meters in his final attempt, smashing his own previous meet record of 6.02m. The crowd erupted, witnessing what Duplantis himself called “the best jump” he’s ever taken in Oslo.
“I am really glad about it. It was really a nice jump,” Mondo said, visibly pleased. “I didn’t have my mind super fixated on any height really, I just felt that how things were turning out I felt that it possible to jump a meet record here, the best jump that I have taken here in Oslo by far. Really happy with that.”
Behind him, Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis took silver with a solid 5.82m effort, while Australia’s Kurtis Marschall rounded out the podium at 5.72m. But the night belonged to Duplantis—poised, precise, and once again pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in pole vault. Three meets, three wins, and now a meet record in Oslo. Mondo is in a league of his own.
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