When it comes to change, generally and sportingly, it seems the old adage only needs a little tweaking. "You can't please some of the people all the time, and you can't please all of the people some of the time. And you can't please all of the people all of the time."

yet, last season, it produced an exceptional meeting at which Sweden's own wonder boy, Armand "Mondo" Duplantis

As we move towards the close of another hectic, controversial, spectacular, worrying (please employ another five or so random adjectives of your choice, to taste) sporting year it is clear that we have had some very obvious highs and, yes, some very clear lows.

of breadth and quality of competition and was won by an inspired 18-year-old Swede, Armand "Mondo" Duplantis

Two 34-year-olds were honoured here tonight as the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Athlete of the Year awards went to Kenya’s marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge and Colombia’s multiple world and Olympic triple jump champion Caterine Ibarguen.

9,045.The IAAF Male Rising Star award went to Sweden’s meteoric 18-year-old pole vaulter Armand "Mondo" Duplantis

It’s an honour to be up here in front of the best athletes in the world," Duplantis, who was also one

I think I  can jump higher than you," said Duplantis with a grin.Cleared 6.05m to go number two

If I was a betting man - and my bank manager, among others, should be duly grateful I am not - I would put money on Eliud Kipchoge stepping up to the stage at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco next Tuesday (December 4) to take possession of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Athlete of the Year award.

Young in winning the 1992 Olympic title in Barcelona.Sweden's 19-year-old pole vaulter Armand "Mondo" Duplantis

equal second best of all time ©Getty ImagesYoungest man on the list, at 19, is Sweden’s Armand "Mondo" Duplantis

put him equal second in the all-time outdoor rankings.Before winning his European title in Berlin, Duplantis

beat Michael Johnson’s world 400m record from lane eight in Rio de Janeiro.What may make it easier for Duplantis

World record holders Eliud Kipchoge and Kevin Mayer are among the five nominees for the 2018 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Male Athlete of the Year award.

the World Indoor Championships in Birmingham this year.American Christian Coleman, Sweden's Armand Duplantis

title at the World Indoor Championships, and the IAAF Diamond League title over 100m.Nineteen-year-old Duplantis

Armand Duplantis, Selemon Barega and Jakob Ingebrigtsen are among the five finalists named by the International

2018 that will be held at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco on December 4.Sweden’s 19-year-old pole vaulter Duplantis

been bettered outdoors by Sergey Bubka, the former world record holder.In the course of the season Duplantis

World decathlon record-holder Kevin Mayer of France and European 100 metres, 200m and 4x100m champion Dina Asher-Smith of Great Britain were awarded the men's and women's European Athlete of the Year prizes.

October 27, 2018Duplantis and Ingebrigtsen jointly received the men's Rising Star award.Eighteen-year-old Duplantis

World record breakers Eliud Kipchoge and Kevin Mayer are among the 10 nominations for Male World Athlete of the Year released today by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

The list also includes Qatar’s new 400 metres hurdles sensation Abderrahman Samba and Armand "Mondo" Duplantis

Kevin Young in winning the 1992 Olympic title in Barcelona.Before winning his European title in Berlin, Duplantis

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has scheduled its two Diamond League finals in Zurich and Brussels on successive days for the first time, presenting challenges for those athletes planning to compete in both meetings.

pictured in action at the Zurich main train station last night ©Getty ImagesSweden’s 17-year-old Armand Duplantis

For Jakob Ingebrigtsen, read Armand Duplantis. 

double at these European Athletics Championships, it was the turn of an 18-year-old Swede, Armand Duplantis

“I do not think that there are any words in this world to describe what I feel,” said Duplantis, whose

“I am on the top of the world,” Duplantis added.“It could not be any better.

The men's javelin will be one of the marquee events at the 24th European Athletics Championships that get underway here tomorrow - which offer in many disciplines an Olympic level of competition.

a world title in 2009 ©Getty ImagesHe faces the rising new talent of his event, 18-year-old Armand Duplantis

Berlin's historic Olympic Stadium is playing its part this week in the staging of the first multi-event European Championships. While Glasgow is hosting aquatics, cycling, golf, gymnastics, rowing and triathlon until August 12, the athletics is about to take place in the cavernous arena originally built for the 1936 Olympics.

pole vault record holder Renaud Lavillenie and Sweden's world junior pole vault record holder Armand Duplantis

recently beaten him and every other pole vaulter of note on his home ground of Stockholm - Armand "Mondo" Duplantis

But you feel as if, for some of his fellow vaulters, the inexorably talented Duplantis - who will seek

Loved and feared at the same time.Armand Duplantis, pole vault's 18-year-old rising talent, who will

Immediately after the competition Duplantis, his eyes large and intense, answered my questions with precision

IInterviewed by the MC, Duplantis expressed similar sentiments, and when invited to compliment the event

Lavillenie and Duplantis don’t have the opportunity to combine their talents in the manner of rowers

Ronnie Baker of the United States was a model of consistency on the first day of the International Association of Athletics Federations Diamond League meeting in London as he won the men’s 100 metres in 9.90sec - exactly the same as he recorded in winning his heat.

and made no further clearances, remaining with a best of 5.86m.Sweden' world under-20 champion Mondo Duplantis

London's Olympic Stadium, the host last week to the new-style Athletics World Cup, will reverberate to the sound of track and field again this weekend as the 11th of the International Association of Athletics Federations Diamond League meetings of the season takes place tomorrow and Sunday (July 22).

States in the men's pole vault.Joining them will be recently-crowned world under-20 champion Armand Duplantis