Mondo Can Sing Too: Duplantis Releases 'Gold' as Anthem for World Athletics' Ultimate Championship

Armand Duplantis has released a new single, "Gold," as the official anthem for World Athletics' inaugural Ultimate Championship. The track dropped on Friday 21 August 2026, written and performed by Duplantis himself and available on major streaming platforms. The music video was filmed in Budapest and weaves together footage from across the pole vaulter's career.

Duplantis co-wrote "Gold" with Carl Silvergran and Oscar Chase, with Chase handling production. He will perform the song live at the close of the Ultimate Championship, which runs 11–13 September in Budapest. The event brings together world champions, Diamond League winners and the top performers of 2026, all chasing a share of a $10 million (£7.5 million) prize pot.

"Music and sports are the two things that bring people together in the best way, and Gold is an expression of that," Duplantis said.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe called it appropriate to have an anthem written and performed by "one of the greats."

This is not a novelty side project. Duplantis released his debut track "Bop" in February 2025 and has since put out five more songs, accumulating more than 11 million streams on Spotify. The Swedish-American vaulter, who has repeatedly broken the world record in his event, has built a genuine second career in music alongside his dominance on the runway.

The official video, published on YouTube as "Mondo - Gold (Official Ultimate Anthem)," leans into that dual identity. Budapest landmarks share screen time with vaulting footage, tying the song to the city that will host the championship and to the athlete who will headline it.

For Duplantis, September in Budapest now carries two stages. He will compete against the best field the sport can assemble. Then, when the jumping is done, he will pick up the microphone and close the show.