A third World Championship gold and an improvement of the world record to 6.30. Armand Duplantis's unparalleled 2025 was also reflected in the votes for the world's best athlete and track and field athlete of the year.
For the second year in a row, the Swedish-American pole vaulter was chosen as the world's best athlete by both the BBC and the International Sports Journalists Association.
In a digital press conference with journalists from all over the world, Duplantis says that he is now aiming for the next dream limit, 6.40.
"It's not something that will happen automatically, not even next year. But it's something I have the capacity for during my career," he says.
Believe in four Olympics
The two-time Olympic gold medalist also says that Los Angeles 2028 is likely not his last Olympics and that winning four Olympic gold medals as the first pole vaulter would be appealing.
That would be amazing. I definitely think it would be possible. I would love to win four Olympics.
He certainly has the motivation to continue for many more years.
- There is always a better jump to make, more you can push, or a little more power or energy you can create. I always try to maximize. That is what keeps me going, says Duplantis.
The coming year holds three big goals in the athletics arena. It starts with the World Indoor Championships in March in Torun, Poland, where he set his first world record in 2020 (6.17).
I love Torun, I have fond memories of it. I hope I get there in really good shape and can reach a high mark.
Biggest dream
Add the European Championships in Birmingham in August and then the first edition of the money-making Ultimate Championship in September, which takes place in Budapest, where he improved the world record to 6.29 last year, and which has more than 100 million kronor in total prize money.
I'm going into the year with the same thoughts as last year - to maximize and prove to myself that I can maintain a high level day in and day out. I hope I can do even better, become even more efficient.
But he is also looking forward to his wedding to Desiré Inglander, which was moved up a year. Armand Duplantis also says that he wants to have children in the future and that his biggest dream in life is to become a good father.
That's my dream and what being successful means to me.
Armand Duplantis will only compete in three indoor events in 2026:
February 22: Renaud Lavillenie's pole vault gala, Clermont-Ferrand.
March 12: Mondo Classic, Uppsala.
March 20-22: World Indoor Championships, Torun, Poland.
Some of the summer's big competitions:
June 7: Bauhaus Gala, Stockholm.
10–16 August: EC, Birmingham.
September 9-13: Ultimate Championship, Budapest.
The Diamond League begins in Doha on May 8 and ends in Brussels on September 4-5.
