Olympic pole vault sensation Mondo Duplantis has secretly married his model girlfriend Desire Inglander in a private legal ceremony, the athlete has confirmed. The Swedish-American world record holder, 26, tied the knot with Inglander, 24, at Stockholm City Hall, though the couple plan a formal wedding celebration in France this summer.
Secret Stockholm Ceremony Precedes Summer Wedding
Duplantis revealed the news to Swedish outlet TT, explaining that the Stockholm event was a legal formality required for Swedish citizens marrying abroad. 'I don't have the ring on yet and we're going to have the real ceremony and wedding during the summer,' he told Sport Bladet. The athlete described feeling 'half-married' given the administrative nature of the Stockholm proceedings, adding he is adhering to American tradition by waiting for the ceremonial exchange of rings in June.
Competition Schedule Adjusted for Wedding Plans
The wedding plans have already impacted Duplantis's athletic schedule. The organiser of the Bislett Games in Norway inadvertently revealed the pole vaulter will miss the event on June 13-14 because he will be in Cannes, France for the wedding ceremony. 'I might have wished he wouldn't say anything. I was a little shocked that he said it, but that's how it is,' Duplantis commented.
He expressed no regret about potentially missing competitions for his wedding: 'It's a wedding and it happens once in a lifetime. If you miss one or two competitions – who cares? I've competed as many times as I want in the last five years. If I have to miss a competition because of a wedding and marry the love of my life, it doesn't matter.'
From Olympic Embrace to Secret Proposal
The couple's relationship has been prominently visible throughout Duplantis's career, with Inglander consistently supporting from the stands. Their passionate embrace after Duplantis broke the world record to win gold at the Paris Olympics became one of the iconic moments of the Games.
Shortly after the Olympics, Duplantis meticulously planned a secret proposal during a getaway to The Hamptons. He told Inglander they were participating in a Vogue photoshoot, but as the sun set, he surprised her by getting down on one knee. 'I was more nervous than at the Olympics,' Duplantis told Vogue Scandinavia.
Inglander, a content creator, expressed her astonishment: 'I'm still shocked. I'm such a control freak, it's impossible to surprise me.' Duplantis had arranged an additional surprise by bringing both their families from Louisiana and Sweden to celebrate the engagement.
Balancing Public Life with Privacy
Despite their high-profile relationship, the couple is striving to maintain some privacy around their personal lives. Duplantis admitted: 'It feels a little strange. I'm grateful for it, there's a lot of love. But we're trying to find a balance to keep it a little private. And it feels a little uncomfortable to talk about it.'
The summer wedding in France will provide the ceremonial celebration the couple desires, following the necessary legal formalities already completed in Sweden. As Duplantis continues to dominate pole vaulting, his personal life has now reached this significant milestone with the woman who has been his constant supporter throughout his record-breaking career.
