Swedish pole vaulter Armand “Mondo” Duplantis has unveiled his preferred color in a marketing campaign for the inaugural Ultimate Championship. The two-time Olympic gold medalist dropped his new track “Gold” in collaboration with World Athletics as the official theme song for the upcoming competition, featuring a substantial prize pool of $10 million.
Scheduled to take place in Budapest from September 11-13, the Ultimate Championship will feature a lineup of Olympic, world, and Diamond League champions across three evening sessions. Winners of individual events stand to earn $150,000 in prize money.
At 26 years old, Duplantis, who holds the world record, has been involved in the music scene for some time and previously released his debut single “Bop” in 2025. Expressing his aspirations, he mentioned his dream of clinching a Grammy award.
The anthem “Gold” was co-written by Duplantis alongside Carl Silvergran and Oscar Chase, with Chase also handling production duties, as per the World Athletics announcement. Duplantis shared that the song embodies the idea of representing something greater than oneself, echoing the unity found in both music and sports.
Accompanied by a music video shot in Budapest, featuring archival footage of Duplantis during his early athletic years, the track is set to be integrated into the event’s broadcast and live experience, connecting spectators in the stadium with global audiences. Duplantis is slated to perform “Gold” live to conclude the Ultimate Championship.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe highlighted the event’s purpose of showcasing the multifaceted talents and passions of top athletes within the sport, praising Duplantis as a prominent figure who created the Ultimate Anthem. The championship is set to become a biennial occurrence, promising an exciting platform for athletes to shine on and off the track.