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Mondo Duplantis climbing higher week by week - 2015 DyeStat

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DyeStat.com   Jan 20th 2015, 7:34pm
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Mondo improving 'every day'

 

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

 

*Update: Armand Duplantis, as well as Tommy Dial, are entered in the Millrose Games junior boys pole vault at the Millrose Games, Feb. 14*

 

Success is coming fast for Louisiana freshman pole vaulter Armand "Mondo" Duplantis, but it's really not too surprising.

 

The youngest son of former professional pole vaulter Greg Duplantis has shown an affinity for one of the sport's most challenging events since he could walk.

 

Mondo began breaking world records for his age when he was 7.

 

So perhaps it's no wonder that Mondo has already destroyed the freshman class record. He became the first ninth grader to surpass 16 feet at the LSU Invitational on Jan. 10, when he made 16-1. Then last Saturday at the Reno Pole Vault Summit, he improved to 16-8.

 

Duplantis has been waiting to get to high school for years just for the opportunity to compete on a regular basis and to put a lifetime of learning and understanding into practice.

 

"I'm going to have a meet pretty much every weekend (now)," he said. "(High school vaulting) is awesome. It's already awesome."

 

The high school scene is already populated by the sons of former legends. Tommy Dial of Jenks OK, a senior with a PR of 17-1.50, is the son of former world record holder Joe Dial. Brandon Bray of China Spring TX, who made 17-8.50 last year, is the son of Jeff Bray (a former 18-6.50 vaulter).

 

But there has been something special, and different, about Mondo.

 

"As soon as he could hang onto a pole he was vaulting over the ottoman in the living room," Greg Duplantis said. "It's not easy at that young of an age to hang on a pole and swing up."

 

Some of Mondo's grade-school vaults were captured on video and live on Youtube.

 

Playing in his backyard, sometimes barefoot, he developed the ability to mimic the techniques of distinctive vaulters, such as Scott Huffman, Jason Colwick and bamboo-era pioneer Cornelius Warmerdam.

 

For at least two decades, the most widely used "conventional" technique was the one mastered by Russian superstar Sergey Bubka.

 

"When we were growing up in the 1970s, 80s and 90s, the only (accepted) technique was Bubka," said Greg Duplantis, who surpassed 19 feet despite standing 5-foot-6. "You run up, then swing up like you're on a high bar with your body rigid and long, like a giant swing."

 

Mondo vaults the way that feels most natural for him and it's much closer to the style of Frenchman Renaud LaVillenie, Olympic champion and world record holder. It's a fluid, acrobatic movement and involves coiling into a ball before springing up and over the bar.

 

Mondo is improving rapidly. He has graduated to a bigger pole six times since last fall and has moved his grip 3-4 inches higher, to 14-6. He is clearing bars about 36 inches over his hands.

 

Mondo was measured at 5-foot-7 1/2 inches last fall so he's already a little taller than his dad.

 

"One of the thigns that happens, once you get better, is the energy you put into the pole manifests itself into gripping higher and using bigger poles," Greg Duplantis said. "It seems like every week (lately) we have to have a new pole. He started making 16 feet in practice about a month ago."

 

Mondo's older brother Andreas is a pole vaulter at Louisiana State and another brother, Antoine, is a high school senior who has signed to play baseball at LSU. (Greg and Helena Duplantis met as student-athletes at LSU).

 

Younger sister Johanna Duplantis is also a pole vaulter and another elite prospect.

 

This month, all eyes are on Mondo. His ascension in the sport is going through another growth spurt.

 

He had one stong attempt at 17 feet last Saturday and figures that he may be able to conquer that bar soon.

 

"Every meet I go to I try (to PR)," he said. "I think I'll get it at the next meet."

 

Whenever it comes, it'll be another rung on the ladder to LaVillenie's world record.

 

 

"Every day I get a little bit stronger," Mondo said.



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