Duplantis Defeats Warholm in Thrilling 100m Exhibition Showdown in Zurich

Olympic pole vault champion Armand Duplantis showcased his speed and versatility in a surprising turn of events, beating 400m hurdles world record holder Karsten Warholm in a 100m exhibition race at Zurich’s Letzigrund Stadium. The Swedish sensation, known for his pole-vaulting prowess, clocked an impressive 10.37 seconds, narrowly edging out his Norwegian friend, who finished in 10.47 seconds.

The friendly competition took place ahead of their respective events at the Diamond League meeting, offering a unique spectacle for the crowd as two of athletics' biggest stars tested their speed over 100 meters. Both Duplantis and Warholm recorded personal bests in the race, with their times fast enough to qualify from the preliminary rounds of the men's 100m at the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics.

Duplantis, 24, got off to a blistering start, leading from the blocks and holding off Warholm to claim victory. After crossing the line, Duplantis, clearly energized, said, "I'm pretty fired up. How could I not be? I mean, come on, stop playing with me."

The race added an entertaining twist to the Diamond League proceedings, as both athletes entered the track in boxing robes—Duplantis donning blue and Warholm red—bringing a sense of showmanship to their head-to-head encounter. After securing the win, Duplantis presented Warholm with a Sweden jersey to wear in the 400m hurdles competition on Thursday, playfully rubbing in his victory.

Warholm, the 28-year-old reigning 400m hurdles world record holder, was gracious in defeat. "I got to give it to Mondo, he beat me fair and square, so it was a great race," Warholm said. "He was out the blocks fast. He was out really sharp."

For Duplantis, the exhibition race was just the latest achievement in a remarkable season. The Swedish pole vaulter defended his Olympic title in Paris, setting a new world record in the process, before breaking his own mark once again with a 6.26m vault at the Diamond League meeting in Silesia last month.

Warholm, on the other hand, has had an exceptional year as well, although he was unable to defend his Olympic title in the 400m hurdles at the recent Paris Games, finishing second behind American rival Rai Benjamin. Despite the result, Warholm remains the three-time world champion and world record holder in the event.

The exhibition race marked a rare opportunity for fans to see two legends from different disciplines go head-to-head in a pure test of speed. Though pole vaulting and hurdling are vastly different events, Duplantis and Warholm demonstrated their mutual respect and competitive spirit on the Zurich track, setting the stage for even more thrilling performances in their specialties later in the Diamond League season.