Why is Mondo Duplantis competing for Sweden?

Armand "Mondo" Duplantis, the record-breaking pole vaulter, has chosen to represent Sweden over the United States, a decision rooted in both personal and professional reasons. Born in Lafayette, Louisiana, to an American father and a Swedish mother, Duplantis holds dual nationality.

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His father, Greg Duplantis, was a pole vaulter himself, while his mother, Helena, was a former heptathlete and volleyball player from Sweden. This unique background set the stage for Duplantis's athletic journey.

Duplantis’s decision to compete for Sweden was significantly influenced by a strategic offer from Sweden's Olympic youth coach, who provided his father with a coaching role on the national team. This opportunity was pivotal in shaping Duplantis’s choice, as it not only ensured high-quality training and support but also allowed him to honor his mother's heritage.

Despite growing up in an English-speaking household, Duplantis embraced his Swedish roots, learning the language through extensive lessons, primarily over Skype. His commitment to integrating into Swedish culture was evident as he progressed from feeling shy about speaking Swedish publicly to comfortably conducting full interviews in the language by 2021.

Moreover, the emotional connection and acceptance by the Swedish public played a crucial role. After winning the Jerringpriset, an award for Sweden's most popular athlete in 2020, Duplantis felt a deep sense of relief and gratitude for being embraced by the Swedish community.

His brother Andreas's positive experiences representing Sweden at a youth level further reinforced Duplantis's decision. Additionally, the support and encouragement from his mother, combined with his love for Sweden nurtured since childhood, made the decision to represent Sweden a natural and fulfilling choice.

Duplantis's athletic prowess is evident from his impressive achievements. At just 15, he won titles at the 2015 World Youth Championships, followed by a bronze at the 2016 World Junior Championships.

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His trajectory continued upward, culminating in setting a world under-20 record at the 2018 European Championships. By 2020, he had won his first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo, and in 2022, he broke the world record three times. Duplantis's list of accolades includes multiple World and European titles, both indoors and outdoors, and Diamond League championships, solidifying his status as one of the greatest pole vaulters of all time.

Duplantis's training regimen is divided between Louisiana and Uppsala, Sweden, optimizing his performance based on seasonal climates. This dual-base approach, alongside the unwavering support from both his American and Swedish backgrounds, has been instrumental in his success.

His emotional connection to Sweden is highlighted by moments such as the municipality of Avesta erecting a pole vault bar beside a monumental Dala horse to celebrate his world record, a gesture that moved Duplantis to tears.

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Why is Mondo Duplantis competing for Sweden?

Mondo Duplantis competes for Sweden due to his Swedish heritage through his mother and the strong connection he developed with the country. Despite being born in the U.S., he chose Sweden after being encouraged by his family and opportunities provided by Swedish athletics.