Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis came out on top in a 100-metre exhibition race involving the Swede and Norwegian Karsten Warholm at the Zurich Diamond League in Switzerland on Wednesday.
Duplantis, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and world record holder in the pole vault, clocked a time of 10.37 seconds, to edge Warholm, who holds the world record in the 400m hurdles event.
“I’m pretty fired up. I mean how can I not be? Stop playing with me,” the pole vaulter said after the exhibition race, which was initially announced after the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The 24-year-old Swede was quicker off the blocks than Warholm, who was more familiar with the blocks as he competes in both the 40mm and 400m hurdles events.
“I’ve got to give it to Mondo,” Warholm said. “He beat me today fair and square.”
Watch Mondo Duplantis 🇸🇪 beat Karsten Warholm 🇳🇴 over 100m in a head to head at the Zurich Diamond League!!
He clocked a remarkable 10.37s!
As a result of this defeat, Warholm has to compete tomorrow in Swedish kits, according to Colin Jackson.pic.twitter.com/eqTzqgVAOb
— Track & Field Gazette (@TrackGazette) September 4, 2024
Duplantis reportedly trained with American Fred Kerley, a two-time Olympic 100m medalist, working on his starts of the block, as part of preparations for the race.
While in high school in 2018, Duplantis ran a wind-legal 10.73s, while, Warholm, 28, last raced the 100m in 2017, running a time of 10.49s indoors.
The two athletes will return to the track in Zurich on Thursday for their own individual events, with Warholm expected to compete in Swedish kits as punishment for losing to Duplantis.
