STOCKHOLM (AP) — World and Olympic champion pole vaulter Armand "Mondo" Duplantis will miss the indoor track and field season, including the 2027 European Championships in Valencia, in order to rest and prepare for the outdoor season, it was announced Friday.
Published on: 02/10/2026 - 12:34
The 26-year-old American-born Swede explained in a statement, “I am making this decision to give my body the recovery and preparation period it needs, so that I can perform at my best when I return to competition.”
He added, "I will focus on training well and preparing for the 2027 outdoor season, which extends from the beginning of May until the World Championships in mid-September."
Mundo won the Ultimate Championship in Budapest on September 11 with a record of 6.20m, after withdrawing from the Diamond League finals in Brussels as a precaution, due to a recurring strain in his leg.
The two-time Olympic and three-time world outdoor champion improved his world record earlier this season to 6.31m.
"I had a great season this year," he said.
He continued, "I love pole vaulting and I want to continue challenging myself to reach greater heights, but it was also a season with a more exhausting competition schedule than necessary during the summer."
He added, "I had a lot of commitments last year and did not have enough time to prepare for the intense competition schedule."
© 2026 AFP
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