Armand Duplantis, the pole vault world record holder, outpaced 400-meter hurdles world champion Karsten Warholm in a 100-meter demonstration sprint at Letzigrund Stadium on Wednesday. Duplantis ran 10.37 seconds, defeating Warholm’s 10.47 seconds.
The two sportsmen, who are close friends, came up with the concept for the race earlier this season when discussing who would be faster in a sprint. Despite their outstanding times, neither would qualify for the men’s 100 meters at the Olympics, but their performances were comparable to top-level sprinters.
“I’m pretty fired up,” Duplantis stated following his triumph. Warholm, polite in loss, complimented Duplantis, saying, “He beat me fair and square. “It was a fantastic race, and he was quick off the line.”
Duplantis, as “Mondo,” gave Warholm a Sweden racing vest as a light-hearted gesture for his upcoming hurdles event. The clash took place ahead of the city’s Diamond League meet when both athletes will compete in their respective disciplines.
Just days before the sprint, Duplantis resumed his record-breaking streak at a Diamond League event in Poland on August 25, clearing 6.26 meters for his third pole vault world record of the year. He had earlier set a record by clearing 6.25 meters at the Paris Olympics.
