In a thrilling showdown that had athletics fans on the edge of their seats, pole vaulting sensation Mondo Duplantis emerged victorious in a 100-meter sprint against the formidable 400m hurdler Karsten Warholm.
According to the report published by Reuters, the exhibition race, held in Zurich on Wednesday, was a highly anticipated event that pitted two world record holders against each other in a friendly yet fiercely competitive race.
Mondo Duplantis: Friendly but fierce
Duplantis, known for his lightning-fast reflexes and explosive power in the pole vault, proved to be equally formidable on the sprint track. He left the blocks like a bullet, maintaining a commanding lead throughout the race and crossing the finish line in an impressive 10.37 seconds.
Warholm, despite his best efforts, was unable to match Duplantis’ pace and finished with a time of 10.47 seconds.
The atmosphere was electric as the two athletes entered the track with the swagger of seasoned fighters, Duplantis in a blue satin gown and Warholm in red. The friendly banter and light-hearted trash-talk that had been exchanged in the lead-up to the race added to the excitement. However, once the robes were shed and the athletes were in position, it was all business. Duplantis’s explosive start sealed the victory, leaving Warholm to acknowledge his opponent’s superiority on the day.
Warholm: A real sportsman
“I’m pretty fired up. How could I not be? I mean, come on, stop playing. Stop playing. Stop playing with me,” an exuberant Duplantis declared at the finish line.
Warholm, ever the sportsman, conceded graciously, “You know, I got to give it to Mondo. He beat me today, fair and square, so it was a great race. And he was out the blocks fast. He was out really sharp.”
While the world record of 9.58 seconds set by Usain Bolt in 2009 remained untouched, both athletes ran faster than the women’s record of 10.49 seconds set by Florence Griffith-Joyner in 1988.
Versatility and speed
Duplantis, who has shattered the pole vault record ten times, including retaining his Olympic title at Paris last month with a vault of 6.26 meters, showed his versatility and speed on the track. Warholm, the Olympic gold medallist from Tokyo 2021, where he broke his world record in the 400m hurdles, also demonstrated his prowess in the sprint.
The duo will return to their respective disciplines at the Weltklasse Diamond League at the Letzigrund Stadium on Thursday. Warholm, as a goodwill gesture, was presented with a Swedish shirt, which he is expected to don in his race, adding a touch of camaraderie to the fierce competition.