Mondo Duplantis' fiancée — Swedish model Desiré Inglander — motivated him to learn Swedish

TOKYO (AP) — As every second-language learner knows, Louisiana-born Armand “Mondo” Duplantis needed motivation to learn — in his case — Swedish.

The globe saw his inspiration Monday at Japan's National Stadium when he clambered into the stands after setting a world record in the pole vault, hugged his fiancée — Swedish model Desiré Inglander — and followed up with a made-for-Hollywood kiss and embrace.

It’s notable that what seemed to be Duplantis’ first interview after his record at the world championships was with Swedish television in the stands — a very brief one in between the hugs and kisses with Desiré, family and friends.

He called meeting Desiré in 2020 his "most important” factor in gaining fluency.

“That made it actually decent," he joked.

There were other educational moments, of course. He grew up in Lafayette, Louisiana, in the southern United States with a Swedish mother and an American dad. There were those summers with grandparents in Sweden and, a decision to compete internationally for Sweden with all that entails.

"I’m marrying a Swedish girl — and her family is of course all Swedish,” Duplantis explained. "I've had to make sure that the Swedish was on par — up to game enough — to make sure when we’re having family dinners or whatnot, just hanging out, that I can go with the flow with everything.”

He has only a mild southern accent. But when speaking in Swedish, he described his accent as “very weird" in a country where he said even local accents change markedly depending on the location.

“Obviously my American accent seeps through very, very hard I think."

Duplantis' Swedish is strong enough to do interviews in the language, make television appearances and do promotions. When you ask a few Swedes, they call him “fluent.”

“They're probably being very, very kind,” he replied.

Duplantis was asked if he felt extra pressure from the Swedish public to keep setting records.

The question was prompted by a comment reportedly made by American vaulter Sam Kendricks. Kendricks was the silver medalist behind Duplantis a year ago at the Paris Olympics. He was also the last to win the world title — in Doha in 2019 — before Duplantis took over.

Monday was the 14th time Duplantis has set the world record.

“I think that's probably a lack of understanding of Swedish culture to think that the expectations are super high on me as far as the Swedes are concerned,” Duplantis replied. “I think they're (Swedes) not the most harsh in that kind of way. I have no complaints."

“I think that a lot of people expect world records out of me a lot of the time,” he added. “I think that there's also a pretty fair reason for that too because I've broken the record a lot of times. And I've shown that whenever the conditions are right, I'm really up for it.”

Ditto for Mondo speaking Swedish.

AP Sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports

Sweden's Armand Duplantis celebrates after making a clearance to break the world record after winning gold in the men's pole vault final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Sweden's Armand Duplantis celebrates with United States' Sam Kendricks and Greece's Emmanouil Karalis after making a clearance to break the world record after winning gold in the men's pole vault final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Sweden's Armand Duplantis competes in the men's pole vault final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

A fan holds a sign for Sweden's Armand Duplantis as he prepares to attempt setting a new men's pole vault world record of 6.30 meters, at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Sweden's Armand Duplantis kisses his girlfriend Desire Inglander after setting a new men's pole vault world record of 6.30 meters, at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

WENGEN, Switzerland (AP) — Host Italy has a new contender in Alpine skiing with the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics three weeks away.

Giovanni Franzoni claimed his first World Cup victory on the famed Lauberhorn course in a super-G Friday — four months after his close friend and former roommate, Matteo Franzoso, died in a crash during preseason training in Chile.

The 24-year-old Franzoni — a former world junior champion in super-G, downhill and Alpine combined — was the first racer on course and took advantage of the No. 1 bib to deliver a near-perfect run.

Reaching a top speed of 140.44 kph (87 mph), Franzoni finished 0.35 seconds ahead of Stefan Babinsky of Austria and 0.37 ahead of downhill world champion Franjo von Allmen of Switzerland.

Franzoni handled the tricky Canadian Corner and Kernen S sections on the upper portion of the course cleaner than anyone else.

“I made the difference on the turn where I crashed a few years ago,” he said, referring to his season-ending fall in a super-G in 2023 that resulted in thigh surgery.

Swiss overall World Cup leader Marco Odermatt, a four-time winner in Wengen, placed fourth, 0.53 behind.

The top American was Ryan Cochran-Siegle in sixth.

Franzoni also led both downhill training sessions and could be a contender in the classic downhill on Saturday. His previous best World Cup finish was third in a super-G on home snow in Val Gardena last month.

Now Franzoni will be among the leaders for Italy’s team in Bormio, where men’s Alpine skiing will be contested during the Olympics.

“If you had told me that I would be third in Val Gardena and then win here — on the two courses that I've had the most trouble on — I wouldn't have believed it,” Franzoni said.

The opening ceremony for the Games is scheduled for Feb. 6.

“I don't know about the future, but the present has changed," Franzoni said. "We always live day by day.”

Marco Schwarz, the Austrian who won the previous super-G in Livigno, Italy, last month, missed the race due to sickness.

Also sitting out this weekend is Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, the Norwegian standout who returned this season after a horrific crash in Wengen two years ago.

“This year," Kilde said on Instagram this week, "it’s just a little too early.”

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Giovanni Franzoni of Italy takes a jump during the alpine ski, men's World Cup super-G race, in Wengen, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt reacts at finish line during an alpine ski, men's World Cup super-G, in Wengen, Switzerland, Friday Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Giovanni Zenoni)

Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen reacts at finish line during an alpine ski, men's World Cup super-G, in Wengen, Switzerland, Friday Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Giovanni Zenoni)

Austria's Stefan Babinsky speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup super-G, in Wengen, Switzerland, Friday Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Italy's Giovanni Franzoni reacts at finish line during an alpine ski, men's World Cup super-G, in Wengen, Switzerland, Friday Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Giovanni Zenoni)

Italy's Giovanni Franzoni speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup super-G, in Wengen, Switzerland, Friday Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)