Duplantis, McLaughlin-Levrone Crowned World Athletics Athletes of the Year

Posted : 02 December 2025

Swedish pole vault sensation Armand "Mondo" Duplantis and American track star Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone were honored as World Athletics Athletes of the Year during the ceremony in Monaco on Sunday.

Duplantis, 26, dominated the pole vault scene in 2025, setting four new world records while clinching both the indoor and outdoor world titles. His remarkable season saw him remain unbeaten across 16 competitions, making him the first male pole vaulter in modern history to complete two consecutive years without defeat.

At the Tokyo World Championships, he cleared an impressive 6.30 metres, successfully defending his title and breaking the world record for the 14th time in his career. This marks the third occasion that Duplantis has received the overall top athlete award, having previously won it in 2020 and 2022.

On the track, McLaughlin-Levrone made headlines with her extraordinary performance in the 400 metres. She recorded the second-fastest time ever, breaking the championship record and approaching the 40-year-old world record set by Marita Koch of East Germany. Already a double Olympic 400m hurdles champion, the 26-year-old shifted her focus to the flat 400m and became the first woman since 1985 to run under 48 seconds, clocking 47.78 seconds. She also contributed to the United States’ 4x400m relay victory.

Her time remains just behind Koch's 47.60 seconds, a record clouded by suspicions of a state-sponsored doping program, though Koch never failed a drug test. McLaughlin-Levrone has not been defeated in either the 400m or 400m hurdles for the past two years, becoming the first athlete to simultaneously hold world titles in both events. She previously earned the overall athlete of the year title in 2022.

Additional awards were presented to outstanding performers across various disciplines. Kenyan middle-distance runner Emmanuel Wanyonyi received the men's track award after securing both Olympic gold and the 800m world title, while McLaughlin-Levrone claimed the female track honor.

Field athlete awards went to Duplantis and Australia’s Nicola Olyslagers, who won high jump titles indoors and outdoors. Kenyan long-distance runner Sabastian Sawe was named men’s out-of-stadium athlete for his victories at the London and Berlin marathons, and Spanish racewalker Maria Perez earned the women’s equivalent after defending her 20km and 35km world titles.

Duplantis, McLaughlin-Levrone Crowned World Athletics Athletes of the Year

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