Paris Olympics ‘24: Model girlfriend Desiré Inglander ‘the rock’ vaulting Mondo Duplantis to world record heights

Paris gold medallist and Olympic pole vault sensation Armand Duplantis says he could not have done what he has without the support of his Swedish model girlfriend, including bettering the world record mark nine times.

Sweden's Armand Duplantis and his girlfriend Desire Inglander. Armand set a new world record of 6.25m in the men's pole vault final of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Picture: Supplied

The day after taking home gold in the pole vault, Mondo Duplantis has opened up about how much his girlfriend, Swedish model and influencer Desiré Inglander, is crucial for hitting his record-breaking heights.

“Des is my rock and she’s done so much for me, especially these past few months leading up to this event,” he told Paris Confidential. “It’s probably been quite tough, honestly, because I’ve been such a boring boyfriend. I’ve been locked in and I just haven’t done anything … I’ve just been so focused on trying to make sure that I am able to perform.”

Gold medallist Armand Duplantis of Sweden celebrates by kissing his girlfriend Desire’ Inglander after setting a new world record and winning the gold medal in the Men's Pole Vault Final Picture: Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Duplantis cleared a height of 6.25m – breaking both the world and Olympic record – in claiming the gold; it’s the ninth time he has bettered the world’s leading mark.

Sweden's Armand Duplantis celebrates a gold medal and new world record. Picture: Anne-Christine Poujoulat / AFP

In what was one of the most romantic moments on the track, Duplantis rushed over to Inglander following his third-time clearance. She’s since gone viral on Instagram with a reel captioned: “My boyfriend just broke the world record in the OLYMPICS.”

Speaking at Omega House where Duplantis is an ambassador, he said he was savouring the moment, despite a lack of sleep and losing his voice from celebrations.

“I shouldn’t be complaining right now. I visualised this moment since I was three years old, just jumping in my parents’ backyard – looking at the world record height in an Olympic final. Even though I’d never been there, I felt like I’d been there a thousand times mentally”

The couple, who have been together since 2020, are now off on a long-awaited holiday.

“We’re going to go on vacation tomorrow and we’re going to have some alone time for the next week or so, which is much needed because I think that we, and she’s very deserving of that. I wouldn’t be in the situation I am right now without her.”

Originally published as Paris Olympics ‘24: Model girlfriend Desiré Inglander ‘the rock’ vaulting Mondo Duplantis to world record heights