Mondo Duplantis competes at the Olympics (© Getty Images)
There’s so much to look forward to in 2024 and with just 200 days to go, many athletes are focused on their journey to Paris so they can peak in the No.1 Olympic sport at the Games in August.
There are also numerous other targets to aim for, including five World Athletics Series events and ever-expanding one-day meeting circuits.
At the World Athletics Awards, three of our sport’s stars shared their ambitions for the year ahead – on and off the track and field.
Mondo Duplantis
“Indoors is the first thing that’s on my mind because it’s the one that’s the closest. So, the indoor season and the World Indoor Championships,” says Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis, who set one of his seven world pole vault records when winning the world indoor title in Belgrade in 2022.
He’ll defend that title in Glasgow at the beginning of March, returning to the Scottish city in which he set the second of his world records in 2020.
Mondo Duplantis celebrates his world pole vault record of 6.20m in Belgrade (© Getty Images)
“Then, to try to win every competition that I’m at, try to jump as high as I can, try to keep pushing as high as I can go,” adds Duplantis, whose most recent world record of 6.23m was set when winning the Wanda Diamond League Final in Eugene in September. “Of course, the Olympics, but honestly – my mind is more on indoors right now than it is on anything else. One thing at a time.”
On his aims outside of athletics, the Olympic and world champion says: “To enjoy life. I’ve been enjoying life thus far; I’ve been really enjoying everything about the whole journey and everything that comes with it. So, just trying to keep having a good balance in life and enjoy.
“I’ve always been pretty good at separating my personal life and my sport. I’ve always been able to have a good balance, and I think mentally that’s been able to show for me, because if you get too absorbed in what you do and your sport then it’s pretty easy to stress yourself out. So, just being with my family or doing some other extra-curricular activities, like golf or whatever it may be, to get my mind off of track.”
Faith Kipyegon
“I’m really looking forward to Paris 2024, to step on that track and see what will happen,” says Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon, who already has two Olympic 1500m titles and four world titles in the 1500m and 5000m to her name. “That’s what we are looking for – to get to the Olympics, get to the track and just enjoy it and see what will come out.”
Faith Kipyegon celebrates her 1500m win at the Tokyo Olympic Games (© Getty Images)
In 2023, as well as winning 1500m and 5000m gold medals at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Kipyegon broke three world records, in the 1500m, mile and 5000m. It’s performances like these that she knows will further inspire the next generation, which is another of her aims in 2024.
“Outside of track, and after the Olympics, I think I will motivate and inspire many, especially young girls in my country and Africa and all over the world,” she says. “That is my motivation.
“I want to see them to express their talent, follow my footsteps, and I want them to see good role models.”
Noah Lyles
US sprinter Noah Lyles is clear about his on-track aims for this year.
“2024: three gold medals at the Olympics and a world record,” says the 100m, 200m and 4x100m world champion.
Does he have any specific times in mind? “19.10,” he replies, predicting a mark for 200m. “9.4 (for 100m) would be nice to see, as well.”
Noah Lyles anchors USA to win the 4x100m at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 (© Getty Images)
Passionate about his docuseries and promoting athletics, when considering his off-track aims he adds: “I’d like to see my docuseries get to about four episodes, instead of two this year.
“I’d like to see track meets with other athletes from other sports and even other stars showing up. I’d like to be able to see my personal goal this year come to fruition – I have a plan for this year and even though it’s going to be the very baby start of it, I’d like to see growth in it.
“I’d definitely like to see more walk ins – now that people have seen them, I feel that we can actually organise it a lot better and find the track meets that want to partner up with it. And let’s get some track meets in some major cities in the US – that’s truly what I want to see.”
