LONDON: Sweden’s pole vault sensation Mondo Duplantis and American sprint and hurdles star Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone were named World Athletes of the Year on Sunday, capping off stellar seasons for both athletes.
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Duplantis, 26, retained his gold medal at the World Championships in Tokyo in September, breaking his own world record four more times and remaining undefeated in 16 competitions. The Swedish star also secured his fifth consecutive Diamond League title, cementing his dominance in the pole vault. “It’s really important for me to win this for the field eventers. It’s very special, I’m going to really cherish this one,” he said.
Mondo Duplantis has been named the OVERALL World Athletics Male Athlete of the Year for 2025!
A year where he set 4 World Records in the Pole Vault, the highest number of WRs he has set in a year. pic.twitter.com/9Sv33i6K7S
— Track & Field Gazette (@TrackGazette) November 30, 2025
McLaughlin-Levrone, also 26, extended her unbeaten streak in both the 400 metres flat and 400m hurdles over the past two years. Her winning time of 47.78 in Tokyo marked the second-fastest 400m ever, and she became the first athlete in history to win world titles in both events. She also contributed to the US 4x400m relay team’s gold medal at the World Championships.
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“Wow, I’m honestly blown away to win this. Thank you so much, World Athletics, for this honour and recognition,” McLaughlin-Levrone said. “2025 was a year of stepping outside of the comfort zone and pushing the bounds of what was mentally and physically possible.”
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The awards celebrate their consistency, record-breaking performances, and ability to inspire in both individual and team events. Duplantis’ precision and longevity in the pole vault, paired with McLaughlin-Levrone’s historic achievements on the track, underline why they were chosen as the top athletes globally for the year.