Sweden's Mondo Duplantis And American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Win Prestigious World Athlete Of The Year Honors
In a ceremony held at the prestigious Athletics Awards in Monaco, Swedish pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis and American sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone have been awarded top honors as the world's best athletes for 2025. Duplantis, who is widely regarded as the greatest pole vaulter of all time, has won his third World Athlete of the Year award, while McLaughlin-Levrone has claimed her second title in two years.
Duplantis dominated the year in the pole vaulting event, breaking multiple world records and winning four major titles. His latest record-breaking performance saw him clear 6.30 meters, a mark that left all other competitors in his wake. The Swedish athlete's impressive run of form, which includes 37 consecutive victories, has cemented his status as one of the greatest athletes in history.
The win was met with an outpouring of praise from Duplantis himself, who expressed his gratitude to World Athletics and the jury for their support. "Thank you so much," he said. "This is such a huge honor." He also dedicated his award to the field eventers, who have supported him throughout his career.
Meanwhile, McLaughlin-Levrone's second World Athlete of the Year title was well-deserved, given her impressive performance in the 400 meters and 400-meter hurdles events. The American sprinter won her first world championship gold in Tokyo in September with a time of 47.78 seconds, just 18 hundredths-of-a-second shy of Marita Koch's world record.
McLaughlin-Levrone also anchored the US team to another world championship gold over the 4x400 relay event, securing her third consecutive title in the discipline. Her impressive form throughout the year has left many wondering how she manages to stay undefeated in both events.
The win marks a significant milestone for both athletes, who have established themselves as two of the best in their respective disciplines. As they look forward to the 2026 season, it will be interesting to see if they can continue to push boundaries and achieve even greater success.
Duplantis' record-breaking performance has earned him an additional $100,000 from his contract, a testament to his dominance on the track. McLaughlin-Levrone, meanwhile, has already set her sights on 2026, saying "For me, 2025 was a year of stepping outside of the comfort zone and pushing the bounds of what was mentally and physically possible." It's clear that both athletes are committed to continued excellence and will undoubtedly be major players in the track and field world for years to come.
In a ceremony held at the prestigious Athletics Awards in Monaco, Swedish pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis and American sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone have been awarded top honors as the world's best athletes for 2025. Duplantis, who is widely regarded as the greatest pole vaulter of all time, has won his third World Athlete of the Year award, while McLaughlin-Levrone has claimed her second title in two years.
Duplantis dominated the year in the pole vaulting event, breaking multiple world records and winning four major titles. His latest record-breaking performance saw him clear 6.30 meters, a mark that left all other competitors in his wake. The Swedish athlete's impressive run of form, which includes 37 consecutive victories, has cemented his status as one of the greatest athletes in history.
The win was met with an outpouring of praise from Duplantis himself, who expressed his gratitude to World Athletics and the jury for their support. "Thank you so much," he said. "This is such a huge honor." He also dedicated his award to the field eventers, who have supported him throughout his career.
Meanwhile, McLaughlin-Levrone's second World Athlete of the Year title was well-deserved, given her impressive performance in the 400 meters and 400-meter hurdles events. The American sprinter won her first world championship gold in Tokyo in September with a time of 47.78 seconds, just 18 hundredths-of-a-second shy of Marita Koch's world record.
McLaughlin-Levrone also anchored the US team to another world championship gold over the 4x400 relay event, securing her third consecutive title in the discipline. Her impressive form throughout the year has left many wondering how she manages to stay undefeated in both events.
The win marks a significant milestone for both athletes, who have established themselves as two of the best in their respective disciplines. As they look forward to the 2026 season, it will be interesting to see if they can continue to push boundaries and achieve even greater success.
Duplantis' record-breaking performance has earned him an additional $100,000 from his contract, a testament to his dominance on the track. McLaughlin-Levrone, meanwhile, has already set her sights on 2026, saying "For me, 2025 was a year of stepping outside of the comfort zone and pushing the bounds of what was mentally and physically possible." It's clear that both athletes are committed to continued excellence and will undoubtedly be major players in the track and field world for years to come.