A New Era in Athletics: Mondo Duplantis Crowned Inaugural “Ultimate Star” for World Athletics Ultimate Championship🏆” as he Dishonored many reasonable records…see details
Budapest, Hungary – August 13, 2025 – World Athletics has officially named pole vault sensation Armand “Mondo” Duplantis as the first ever “Ultimate Star” for the forthcoming World Athletics Ultimate Championship, set to debut in Budapest from September 11–13, 2026.
A New Era in Athletics
Dubbed the World Athletics Ultimate Championship, this biennial event is being billed as the sport’s grand season finale—an electrifying, three-night showdown featuring 400 of the world’s top athletes, including Olympic, World, and Diamond League champions across 26 individual disciplines plus two relays, highlighted by the debut of a mixed 4Ă—100 m relay. With a groundbreaking US $10 million prize pot, gold medal winners will each take home US $150,000—marking it the richest event in track and field history.
Duplantis: The Face of Ultimate Excellence
At just 25 years old, Duplantis is not only the current world-record holder in pole vault (6.29 m), which he most recently set in Budapest on August 12, 2025, but also a two-time Olympic champion and reigning World Champion. World Athletics has credited him as “Star Athlete” and an ambassador poised to engage fans through his passions in music, fashion, art, and media.
Speaking on the honor, Duplantis reflected:
> “We’re always looking for new ways to make sure that the spotlight shines on athletics and the Ultimate will light up Budapest. … It would be a dream to break the world record in front of a packed crowd next year.”
What’s at Stake
Format: Three consecutive evening sessions, each capped at 3 hours, featuring direct semifinals and finals—no preliminary heats.
Prize Structure:
Gold: US $150,000
Silver: US $75,000
Bronze: US $40,000
*(With scaled payouts down to 16th place, and prize money also allocated for relay standings)*.
Participants: Up to 16 athletes per track event, 8 for field events and relays. Automatic entry is granted to World & Olympic champions, plus Diamond League winners, with the rest selected via world rankings.
Why Duplantis?
World Athletics President Seb Coe described the Ultimate Championship as a “game-changer”—a way to frame athletics as a compact, electrifying broadcast spectacle highlighting the very best of the sport.
Duplantis exemplifies that vision: a charismatic champion with a record-breaking streak (13 WRs to date), flair on and off the track, and a keen eye for cultural crossover—earning him this pioneering role in building momentum for the 2026 event.
Looking Ahead
With over a year remaining, anticipation is already surging. The Ultimate Championship aims to redefine how athletics engages its audience—tight scheduling, star presence, high stakes. And Duplantis is poised to cement his legacy, possibly targeting another world-record vault on home turf in Budapest.
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Final Word: Naming Duplantis as the inaugural “Ultimate Star” underscores World Athletics’ strategy to blend athletic excellence with personality, culture, and spectacle. His presence not only guarantees a headline act in the pole vault—but also brings artistry and star power to this bold new championship.
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