In an exciting exhibition race held in Zurich, Olympic pole vault champion Armand Duplantis emerged victorious against 400m hurdles world record holder Karsten Warholm in a closely contested 100m sprint. Duplantis, known for his dominance in pole vaulting, showcased his impressive speed, finishing with a time of 10.37 seconds. As he crossed the finish line, he confidently glanced back at his friend and rival, Warholm, who followed closely with a time of 10.47 seconds. Both athletes achieved personal bests in this unexpected yet thrilling matchup.
The race took place at Zurich’s Letzigrund Stadium, where both Duplantis and Warholm will soon compete in their specialized events during the Diamond League meeting. Clearly energized by his win, the 24-year-old Duplantis expressed his enthusiasm, exclaiming how exhilarating it was to compete and win against such a formidable opponent. Both competitors added to the entertainment by entering the track in boxing robes, with Duplantis donning blue and Warholm in red, adding a fun, theatrical element to the race.
After the race, in a display of sportsmanship, Duplantis handed Warholm a Sweden jersey, suggesting he wear it for his upcoming 400m hurdles event. Warholm graciously accepted his defeat, acknowledging Duplantis’s explosive start out of the blocks, which set the tone for the race. He admitted that Duplantis outperformed him fair and square, making for an exciting and memorable contest.
Remarkably, the times recorded by both Duplantis and Warholm in this exhibition race would have been sufficient to qualify for the men’s 100m event at the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics. Duplantis, who continues to break records in pole vaulting, recently set a new world record with a jump of 6.26 meters at the Diamond League meeting in Silesia. Meanwhile, Warholm, a three-time world champion in the 400m hurdles, remains one of the sport’s leading figures despite his recent second-place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
This race added a new dimension to both athletes’ careers, highlighting their versatility and competitive spirit. Duplantis’s previous best in the 100m was 10.57 seconds, achieved during his high school years in the United States, while Warholm had clocked a 10.49-second finish in 2017. Their performances in Zurich not only delighted fans but also underscored their extraordinary athletic abilities, proving that both champions are more than capable of excelling across multiple disciplines.
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