The Swedish pole vaulting superstar opens up about the importance of those type of events and why they can be a “sprinkling every once in a while”
Just over a week has passed since Mondo Duplantis competed against Karsten Warholm in the 100m at the Zurich Diamond League (September 4).
Organisers Puma, Red Bull and Weltklasse Zurich had proclaimed this was “100m to settle it all” between the world pole vault and 400m hurdles record-holders.
Just before the pair battled it out on the track, Duplantis and Warholm entered the Letzigrund Stadium with boxing style walk-ons and were dressed in cloaks to the backdrop of hype music.
Around 2600 spectators filled the stand on the home straight and that combined with clever use of lighting, smoke and post-race fireworks created a truly spectacular event.
In the end, Duplantis took the bragging rights and clocked 10.37 to Warholm’s 10.47.
Now, ahead of the Diamond League final in Brussels – where Duplantis will return to his usual discipline of the pole vault – he reflects on that 100m in Zurich and the wider impact it had on the sport.
(Getty)
“It was an amazing feeling but in a completely different way,” Duplantis said. “It was more of a pride and ego thing for both of us and that made it very fun. It was a really nice feeling.
“I feel okay now but at the time I was a bit beat up. It’s a different kind of strain on your body in all honesty. I think that I do good sprint training but I think there is a big difference between that and going at full 100% blast in a competition. I hadn’t had a 100m like that since high school.
“Being inside of the whole thing, I thought it was quite cool, fun and something a little bit fresh. If there was 1v1 with Noah [Lyles] and Letsile [Tebogo] over 200m, I’d watch for example. I think the concept is kind of fun and can be a sprinkling every once in a while.”
When asked if he had any other challenges in his mind, the 24-year-old added: “I really don’t to be honest! That 100m took a lot out of me. But if I had to do one then it would be a 400m. I’ve never ran like past 150m though so it’ll probably be pretty tough!”
Femke Bol (Getty)
In the press conference, which also included Femke Bol and Letsile Tebogo, questions were asked about their dream exhibition races.
World 400m hurdles champion Femke Bol stated that she tuned in to Duplantis v Warholm and called it “amazing to watch”.
“I think a lot of people were super excited by it,” Bol said. “Both Mondo and Karsten were…
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