Mondo Mania

Armand (Mondo) Duplantis is the best junior pole vaulter in the world. Pretty soon, he might be the best, period. The Lafayette, La., native made FACES IN THE CROWD last May after winning the Texas Relays by clearing 19' 4¼", a mark that beat 2015 world champion Shawn Barber and would have placed him third at the Rio Olympics. At this year's Texas Relays, he vaulted 19' 5", breaking his own world junior record. The only high schooler to clear 19 feet, the Lafayette High senior (and LSU commit) has already done it four times. Duplantis has won the European U20 championship (competing for Sweden, where his mother is from and where he holds citizenship) and the world U18 title. Last August he placed ninth at worlds, making him the only top 10 finisher younger than 20 years old. Come 2020, he'll be an early favorite in Tokyo.