'Few understand the struggle'-Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Mondo Duplantis earn praise for their college journey

'Few understand the struggle'-Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Mondo Duplantis earn praise for their college journey

Festus Chuma 19:00 - 23.11.2024

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Mondo Duplantis are celebrated for their inspiring journey from collegiate athletics to Olympic success.

Olympic champion Vernon Norwood has praised Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Mondo Duplantis for prioritizing their education before transitioning to professional athletics.

Speaking on the Louisiana State University-hosted podcast Tigers Win, Norwood and Duplantis reflected on their collegiate experiences and Olympic achievements, underscoring the importance of their time as LSU Tigers.

During the podcast, Duplantis, who has become one of the most decorated pole vaulters in history, shared his decision to graduate before launching his professional career.

"I know I can jump higher, and I want to jump a lot higher," he told the hosts, reinforcing his belief in patience and steady progression.

Norwood chimed in, expressing admiration for Duplantis' path and drawing comparisons with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, another LSU alumnus and Olympic star.

"Coz that thing a lot of people don't understand....like their transition from schooling to professional. I think you, maybe Sydney, y'all are the ones who have like done their high school, and then went through college. I think a lot of people won't understand this transition," Norwood remarked.

Both athletes credited their LSU years for shaping their careers.

Representing the Tigers at NCAA Championships, Duplantis and Norwood built solid foundations for their remarkable Olympic feats.

Duplantis, who relocated to Sweden after his time at LSU, now holds an impressive tally of two Olympic gold medals, having successfully defended his title in Paris this year.

Norwood, meanwhile, delivered a stellar performance for Team USA, earning gold in the men's 4x400m relay and silver in the mixed 4x400m relay.

Duplantis has been the talk of the athletics world in 2024, breaking the men's pole vault world record three times and winning titles at both the Paris Olympics and Diamond League.

His record-breaking 6.26m vault at the Silesia Diamond League meet marked his 10th world record, further cementing his status as the sport’s top performer.

However, he remains driven to reach new heights.

"I would like to jump over 6.30m," Duplantis told Olympics.com, hinting at his next milestone.

The elusive 6.30m mark, never achieved by a male pole vaulter, is now firmly in his sights. "I know I can jump higher, and I want to jump a lot higher," he added.

Despite narrowly missing out on another record at the Diamond League finals in Brussels, where he cleared 6.11m, Duplantis took home his fourth consecutive Diamond League Trophy, maintaining his dominance in the discipline.

Norwood commended Duplantis' focus and work ethic, highlighting their shared college-to-Olympics journey as a model for future athletes.

"It's really inspiring to see how our time at LSU prepared us for this level," Norwood said.

The Swedish-American star has also been celebrating personal milestones.

In October 2024, Duplantis proposed to his longtime girlfriend, model Desire Inglander, during a Vogue Scandinavia photoshoot, taking their relationship to the next level.