Armand "Mondo" Duplantis, the Swedish pole vault world record holder and reigning Olympic champion, has decided not to stay in the Olympic Village during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, citing his discomfort with intense public attention.
Considered one of the best athletes in the world, Duplantis has broken the pole vault world record eight times, with his latest mark being 6.24 meters, earning him between $30,000 and $100,000 for each new record.
Kajsa Bergqvist, the captain of the Swedish national team, and Carolina Klüft, Sweden's team leader and former track star, supported Duplantis's decision.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Village has faced criticism from athletes due to its cardboard beds, lack of TVs, and air conditioning.
Competing for Sweden offers practical advantages for the Swedish-American, such as avoiding the punishing US Olympic trials system. He is the defending Olympic champion and the favorite in the Paris event, where he is confident about potentially setting another world record.
He will compete at the men's pole vault qualifying rounds on August 3rd, with the final on August 5th. The athlete's family plans to attend the events.
Duplantis is in a relationship with Swedish fashion model and influencer Desire Inglander.
Sources: Time, Helsingin Sanomat, SVT, Azerbaycan24, Delfi
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.
