👑 The global track and field stage celebrated its two most dominant and groundbreaking stars as Sweden’s pole vault phenomenon Armand “Mondo” Duplantis and American sprinting sensation Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone were crowned the 2025 World Athletes of the Year. The prestigious accolades, awarded at the World Athletics Awards 2025 ceremony in Monaco, recognized their exceptional, often undefeated, seasons marked by world records and historic gold medals at the World Championships in Tokyo.
The dual victory solidifies the pair’s status not just as the best of the year, but as generational talents redefining the limits of their respective events, earning them international recognition and substantial rewards for their phenomenal achievements.
Duplantis: The Unstoppable King of the Vault
For Mondo Duplantis, the 2025 season was a continuation of his unparalleled mastery of the pole vault. The Swedish superstar claimed the Men’s World Athlete of the Year title for the third time, following his triumphs in 2020 and 2022. Duplantis delivered a season for the ages, breaking the men’s pole vault world record four times, extending his own mark to a seemingly untouchable 6.30 meters at the World Championships in Tokyo.
Crucially, Duplantis went undefeated across all 16 of his competitions, successfully sweeping both the indoor and outdoor world titles. This remarkable consistency makes him the first male pole vaulter in modern athletics history to complete back-to-back unbeaten seasons, showcasing not just ability, but ironclad reliability under pressure. Before claiming the overall top prize, Duplantis was fittingly named the Men’s Field Athlete of the Year, underlining his complete dominance in the vertical jumps category.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s Historic Pivot
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone secured her second Women’s World Athlete of the Year title, a testament to her seamless and historic transition in 2025. Moving her primary focus from the 400-meter hurdles—an event where she holds the world record—to the 400-meter flat race, the American star achieved an undefeated season in her new event.
The culmination of her year came at the Tokyo World Championships, where she scorched the track to win the 400-meter title in an astonishing 47.78 seconds. This performance shattered the 42-year-old Championship record and stands as the second-fastest time in history. The victory cemented her place in the record books as the first athlete ever to win world titles in both the 400-meter hurdles and the 400-meter flat, a feat of versatility and speed that redefined the boundaries of her sport. McLaughlin-Levrone’s exceptional performance first earned her the Women’s Track Athlete of the Year award before the overall crown was announced.
A Night of Honors
The ceremony honored eight athletes across three categories: track, field, and out-of-stadium events, before the two ultimate winners were revealed. Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi was named the Men’s Track Athlete of the Year, while Australia’s high jump world champion, Nicola Olyslagers, claimed the Women’s Field Athlete of the Year. Spanish racewalker Maria Perez and Kenyan long-distance runner Sabastian Sawe were recognized for their excellence in the out-of-stadium categories.
The crowning of Duplantis and McLaughlin-Levrone marks them as the undisputed leaders of global athletics, setting a dazzling standard for the sport heading into the next Olympic cycle. Their achievements underscore the extraordinary potential for human performance when talent meets relentless dedication.