Armand Duplantis Triumphs Over Warholm in Zurich Sprint

Armand Duplantis the Olympic pole vault champion outpaced 400m hurdler Karsten Warholm in a 100m exhibition race at Zurich’s Letzigrund Stadium. Duplantis, representing Sweden finished the race in 10.37 seconds edging out Warholm, who clocked 10.47 seconds. Both athletes set personal bests in this friendly competition, showcasing their sprinting prowess in an event outside their usual disciplines.

Both athletes added a unique twist to the race by entering the track in boxing robes with Duplantis wearing blue and Warholm in red. After his win, Duplantis celebrated by presenting Warholm with a Sweden jersey, a gesture of camaraderie between the two competitors. “I’m pretty fired up,” Duplantis said. “How could I not be? I mean, come on, stop playing with me.”

Warholm, 28, praised Duplantis’s quick start, acknowledging the Swedish athlete’s superior performance. “He was out the blocks fast. He was out really sharp,” Warholm noted. Both athletes are set to compete in their primary events during the Diamond League meeting on Thursday. Armand Duplantis defended his Olympic pole vault title in Paris and further improved his record with a 6.26m jump at the Diamond League in Silesia.

Warholm, the world record holder and three-time world champion in the 400m hurdles, finished second in Paris behind American Rai Benjamin after winning gold at Tokyo 2020. Duplantis’s previous 100m personal best was 10.57 seconds from his high school days in the United States in 2018.

Warholm’s earlier best of 10.49 seconds dates back to 2017. Despite competing in different events, both athletes demonstrated their versatility and competitive spirit.