“Less confident for this race than when I pole vault”: Duplantis to challenge Warholm in 100m in Zurich

A duel that promises to be spectacular. – MAXPPP Capture

The Scandinavian kings of athletics, world record holders in the pole vault Mondo Duplantis and the 400m hurdler Karsten Warholm, will face off on Wednesday in Zurich in the 100m after they both bet that they could beat the other over the distance.

“I'm not nervous but I feel it coming, and I'm less confident for this race than when I pole vault”, Duplantis conceded Tuesday at a press conference, while Warholm admitted that there was “a bit of tension around this race”.

Read also: VIDEO. And one more! Armand Duplantis, recent Olympic champion, has set a new world record in the pole vault

Organized Wednesday evening in Zurich by their common sponsors, on the eve of the Diamond League meeting, the confrontation between the 24-year-old Swedish pole vaulter and the 28-year-old Norwegian hurdler, both ultra-competitive, has excited the fans who are having fun predicting the name of the winner of this improbable duel.

10.49 against 10.57

On paper, advantage to Karsten Warholm, accustomed to starting in starting blocks and who has a slightly faster record than Armand Duplantis in the 100 m (10.49 in 2017 against 10.57 in 2018).

But others highlight the remarkable speed qualities of Duplantis, much faster than his competitors when he has a pole in his hand. It all started in 2023 at the Monaco meeting, when Duplantis told Warholm that he thought he could beat him in the 100m and suggested they race him.

Read also: VIDEO. Paris 2024 Olympics: Armand Duplantis breaks the world record again and retains his Olympic pole vault title

“I would love to”, Warholm had replied before shaking the hand of his future opponent. “For me, it was just “shit talk”, but I saw the track today and I'm starting to realize”, Duplantis said.

“Since the Olympics, I haven't touched a pole”

The young Swede, in top form after his second Olympic title and after having improved the world record for the tenth time (6.26 m) at the end of August, took the challenge seriously, training for the starts with American Fred Kerley, bronze medalist in the 100m in Paris.

“Since the Olympics, I haven't touched a pole except for competitions. I've only done “starts”, only “starts””, he said. After seeing Duplantis in action, Kerley said he was betting on him, while track legend Michael Johnson is betting on Karsten Warholm.

See also: Armand Duplantis at the 2024 Paris Olympics: Five things to know about the Swedish pole vaulter, in contention for a second Olympic title

The race is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. at Zurich's Letzigrund Stadium. A prize, kept secret, is reserved for the winner and a "that will hurt" forfeit is planned for the loser the next day.