Swedish pole vault star Armand Duplantis and US hurdler Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone crowned ‘Athletes of the Year’
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Swedish pole vault star Armand "Mondo" Duplantis and US track sensation Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone were named athletes of the year by World Athletics in Monaco on Nov 30.
PHOTOS: AFP
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MONACO – Swedish pole vault star Armand “Mondo” Duplantis and American track sensation Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone were named athletes of the year by World Athletics in Monaco on Nov 30.
Duplantis, 26, set four pole vault records in 2025 as he won world titles both indoors and outdoors.
He was unbeaten in 16 competitions and became the first men’s pole vaulter in modern history to go undefeated for two successive years.
“I hope to keep pushing it. I hope to keep irritating everyone who has to vote for me for years to come,” he said.
“It’s really important for me to win this for the field eventers. It’s very special. I’m going to really cherish this one.”
Duplantis cleared 6.30m at the world championships in Tokyo after successfully retaining his title, as he broke the world record for the 14th time in his career.
It is the third time that Duplantis has scooped the overall prize for the world’s top athlete. He also won it in 2020 and 2022.
Armand Duplantis (left) posing with his Field Athlete of the Year and World Athlete of the Year awards and partner Desire Inglander during the World Athletics Awards at the Monaco Yacht Club in Monaco.
PHOTO: AFP
McLaughlin-Levrone ran the second-fastest time ever on her way to claiming the world 400m title.
She smashed the championship record and nearly eclipsed a 40-year-old world record set by Marita Koch of the former East Germany.
Already a two-time Olympic 400m hurdles champion, McLaughlin-Levrone became the first woman since 1985 to break the 48-second barrier in the 400m in Tokyo after fully turning her attention to the flat race. She also won the 4x400m.
Her time of 47.78sec trails only the 47.60 run by Koch four decades ago, a record that is widely viewed with suspicion because of a state-sponsored doping programme at the time. Koch never failed a drugs test and has always maintained she did nothing wrong.
McLaughlin-Levrone, 26, also went undefeated through 2025 in both the 400m and 400m hurdles. She is the first athlete to win world titles in both events.
The American previously won the overall athlete of the year accolade in 2022.
“Wow, I’m honestly blown away to win this. Thank you so much, World Athletics, for this honour and recognition,” McLaughlin-Levrone said.
“The culmination of the season in Tokyo was a really special moment. For me, 2025 was a year of stepping outside of the comfort zone and pushing the bounds of what was mentally and physically possible.”
Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi won the men’s track award after adding the 800m world title to his Olympic gold, with McLaughlin-Levrone taking the equivalent female award.
Australia’s Nicola Olyslagers joined Duplantis in being named Field Athlete of the Year after winning high jump titles indoors and outdoors.
Kenyan long-distance runner Sabastian Sawe took the men’s out of stadium prize following his wins at the London and Berlin marathons.
Spanish race-walker Maria Perez won the women’s equivalent as she defended her world titles in the 20km and 35km walks. AFP, REUTERS
