Armand Duplantis Honored Again as Male Athlete of the Year and Technical Events Champion in 2025

Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis has been recognized as Male Athlete of the Year once again, underscoring his dominance in athletics throughout 2025. At 26 years old, Duplantis secured this prestigious title for the third time, following earlier awards in 2020 and 2022, with his recent performances culminating in a gold medal and a new world record at the World Championships in Tokyo.

During the Tokyo World Championships, Duplantis soared to a record height by clearing 6.30 meters, setting a new world record that cemented his place among track and field's elite. Apart from this, he has amassed a remarkable medal haul including three outdoor World Championship golds, three indoor World Championship golds, three European Championship golds, and two Olympic golds. His exceptional year also featured breaking his own world record four times and winning gold at the indoor World Championships in Nanjing earlier in 2025.

Since 2023, the International Athletics Federation (World Athletics) has been honoring athletes annually in three distinct categories: running events, technical events, and competitions outside traditional venues. Duplantis has dominated the technical events category, earning this accolade for the third consecutive year, reflecting consistent excellence in his discipline.

At the award gala in Monte-Carlo, Monaco, Duplantis delivered a memorable moment quoting Winston Churchill, "It is not meant to be perfect," when discussing his imperfect bow tie, humorously connecting his commitment to authentic efforts on and off the field. Expressing gratitude for the honors, he remarked, "This is a huge honor," and playfully added hopes to continue "irritating" voters in future years.

In recognition of outstanding female athletic achievement, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone was named Female Athlete of the Year for her gold in the women's 400 meters, further highlighting the competitive spirit shared across athletics in 2025.

Duplantis’s repeated accolades and record-setting performances emphasize his unparalleled talent and persistent presence at the pinnacle of pole vaulting, making him a celebrated figure in Swedish and global sports as 2025 comes to a close.