On the final day of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, all eyes were on the most beloved “royal” discipline — the pole vault. Special attention, as always, was focused on Swedish sensation Armand Duplantis, the world record holder and two-time Olympic champion.
Exclusive Welcome BonusDuplantis Wins the World Championship and Sets a New Record
The springy Swede did not disappoint, fully living up to expectations. Armand broke the world record for the 14th time, and the height he cleared looked truly spectacular — 6.30 meters. But before that, Duplantis had given the audience quite a scare.
His first two attempts at 6.30 meters were unsuccessful. Everything seemed routine — the run-up, the takeoff, the flight — but the bar trembled treacherously and fell. The athlete himself remained calm. The world championship gold (his third title at this level) was already secured, so there was no reason to worry.
For his third attempt, Duplantis approached the runway with focus and composure. When he soared, the bar wobbled slightly before finally holding firm. It stayed up. Armand became a three-time world champion — and with a new world record!
Incidentally, the previous record also belonged to him — set just a month earlier. Last time, the world’s best pole vaulter cleared 6.29 meters at the István Gyulai Memorial in Budapest.
After conquering yet another height, the pole vault star rushed to celebrate another triumph with his family.
I’m so happy I can’t even explain it. The past two weeks I’ve been in absolute awe of Tokyo. I’ve loved everything here. I felt the only way to leave Japan satisfied was to set a world record.
After Duplantis’ victory, paparazzi captured a memorable moment: the pole vaulter ran to his girlfriend, Desiré Inglander, to celebrate his success with her.
Who Is Armand Duplantis’ Girlfriend, Desiré Inglander?
Desiré was born on May 2, 2001, in Stockholm. She is a year and a half younger than Armand. From a young age, she showed an interest in style and performance, which eventually led her into modeling.
Desiré has worked with modeling agencies, appeared in magazines, and represented major clothing brands. In 2023, she earned a degree in content marketing from the Bergs School of Communication.
Once, Desiré involved Armand in one of her projects by asking him to take part in an ad campaign. Together they signed a contract with OLEHENRIKSEN, and in October 2024, the couple became ambassadors for the Tommy Hilfiger Autumn/Winter 2024 collection.
The Love Story of Armand Duplantis and Desiré Inglander
The couple met during Midsommar, the Swedish celebration of the summer solstice — the longest day of the year. Armand spent three months trying to win their first date. Desiré wasn’t planning to date anyone at the time, having just finished school and preparing to focus on her university studies.
But the persistent (in the best sense) Duplantis didn’t give up. He wrote her a message that convinced her to meet him: “In a few weeks, I’m leaving for the U.S. Please let me see you. Just say yes.” And Desiré agreed!
Armand is deeply in love with his girlfriend and openly adores her. “Desiré brings wonderful balance to my life. It’s so nice to be able to come home and dive into a completely different world, to immerse myself in what we do together. She’s a great friend,” Duplantis said in one interview.
Together with Desiré, Armand has reached the pinnacle of his career. Before meeting her, the Swedish athlete had a European Championship gold (2018) and a World Championship silver (2019). After meeting his beloved, it was as if he grew wings — Duplantis went on to win Olympic, World, and European titles.
His performance in Paris was particularly spectacular. Desiré cheered him on during the Olympics and later dedicated a heartfelt post to him: “My boyfriend just broke the world record at the Olympic Games!”
She was in the stands watching. When Armand cleared the record height, she burst into tears of joy — a moment seen by everyone watching live.
In October last year, Armand proposed to Desiré. He chose a romantic spot for the engagement — a beach in East Hampton. The athlete brought his parents and closest friends to the ocean. Beforehand, the Swede asked the Scandinavian edition of Vogue to organize a photoshoot, which later made it to the magazine’s cover.
“I’ve never been so nervous in my life. I wanted to make a speech, but I forgot the words. I froze completely. I was more nervous than at the Olympics,” Duplantis admitted. The wedding hasn’t yet taken place, and the couple has not set a date for the celebration.
Armand is a lucky man. Since meeting his beloved, his results have skyrocketed. Today, the Swede is number one in the world in pole vaulting. It’s hard to imagine anyone soon being able to beat Duplantis’ record or become a true rival to him.
