World record-breaking Swedish-American pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis has proven there’s not much he can’t do, now venturing into music with his debut single, 'Bop'
It seems Mondo Duplantis is reaching new heights. And we’re not talking about another world record in pole vaulting. Today, the Swedish-American athlete made waves with an entirely different achievement, releasing his debut single, aptly named ‘Bop’.
Duplantis’ fiancée Desiré Inglander put it best in a comment on his Instagram post that teased the upcoming song: “Full of surprises”. The online community appears to agree, as Duplantis’ announcement has been flooded with comments from fellow A-listers and fans alike, all ecstatic about the pole vaulter’s new venture, affirming that his debut song – a catchy pop tune with an infectious melody – is, indeed, a bop.
As it turns out, this foray into music wasn’t exactly a spur-of-the-moment decision. “It happened very organically,” Duplantis tells Vogue Scandinavia. “I met a few guys in Stockholm two or three years ago and I became very good friends with them – I’d shoot the shit with them, hang out in the studio, and just have a great time.” Ever the modest and down-to-earth Scandi, Duplantis notes that “there were no expectations from the beginning at all,” unsure whether he’d even release any music or not. “That’s probably also why I kept it a little bit to myself,” he says. “It was mostly just people who really knew me who knew that I was doing it, because I didn’t want to have that outside pressure or expectations from people.”
Yet, after working on some demos, Duplantis landed on ‘Bop’ for his debut a couple of months ago. “I was like, ‘OK this is cool – I like this, this is a vibe’. And I decided to just go with it, finish it and release it,” he says. Inglander and the rest of his loved ones gave their full support for his new leap. “[I was] talking with family and Des – she was like ‘You should release it, you should just do it’,” he recalls. And he’s happy that he took the plunge, noting that he “felt really good about it,” even though some nerves kicked in “when it actually came to fruition and I posted it.”
But, as we’ve seen, Duplantis is not one to crack under pressure. “I think it’s only cool, and it’s a super amazing and fun thing to do,” he reflects. “I’m stoked about it, honestly.”