The 5-foot-11, 155-pound senior continued to redefine the pole vault event this season, both in the high school realm and beyond. With a clearance of 19 feet, 5 inches at the Texas Relays this spring, he eclipsed his own national high school record to set a new world outdoor U18 standard. At the state meet, he literally raised the bar again, breaking his own U20 world record by clearing 19-5.5, which represents the No. 1 prep height in history by a margin of more than a foot. The jump ranks as the second-highest clearance in the world in 2018 by a man of any age. His fourth consecutive Louisiana pole vault championship in May helped the Mighty Lions finish eighth as a team at the Class 5A state meet. At February’s All Star Perche meet in France, he cleared 19-3.5 to set a new U20 world indoor record with a vault ranks as the world No. 5 height among all males in 2018.
Duplantis has maintained a 3.22 GPA in the classroom and has signed a national letter of intent to compete on an athletic scholarship at Louisiana State University beginning this fall.
A Swedish citizen, Duplantis is committed to promoting his sport, which remains a niche discipline in U.S. prep track, conducting free clinics for youth athletes in the community, both on pole-vaulting technique and stretching. He also volunteers regularly at jayvee and middle school track meets, offering instruction and acting as a meet official. He is outspoken about the importance of setting goals when he guides and instructs youth athletes.
