Warholm and Duplantis discuss the planned sprint duel in Zurich.Image: www.imago-images.de
In Zurich, pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis and hurdler Karsten Warholm, two pop stars of athletics, will compete over 100 meters. How this unusual duel came about and what it costs.
04.09.2024, 10:2404.09.2024, 10:54
Simon Häring / ch media
In retrospect, it’s an amusing anecdote that Mondo Duplantis competes for Sweden, the homeland of his mother, and not for the USA, where his father is from and where he grew up. The reason was that Duplantis wanted to avoid the brutal US qualifying trials.
Because the pole vaulting dominator has long known no competition. At 13, he cleared 4 meters, at 15 he jumped over 5.30, and at 18 an incredible 6.05 meters. Since 2020, he has improved the world record ten times, each time by just one centimeter. He gets a bonus for every new record. The last time was on the last weekend of August in Poland. The current record stands at 6.26 meters. Of the ten participants at Weltklasse Zurich this year, only American Sam Kendricks (6.01 meters) and Greek Emmanouil Karalis (6.00 meters) have cleared the magical 6-meter mark beside Duplantis.
In the pole vault, Duplantis operates in his own universe. One key to his success is his unmatched speed during the run-up, which he knows how to utilize with technical perfection.
The world record in pole vaulting currently stands at 6.26 meters.Image: keystone
A Joke After Training
One who has also set standards in his discipline is Karsten Warholm. The Norwegian is the world record holder in the 400 meters hurdles, three-time world champion, and Olympic champion from 2021. That the 28-year-old only came second as in Paris recently is more of an exception than the rule. In athletics, Warholm and Duplantis are somewhat like pop stars.
As in the previous year, they will compete at Weltklasse Zurich— and not only in their disciplines, but also for the first time ever against each other.
It all started just over a year ago with a joke when they found after training in Monaco that they could race each other over 100 meters. Warholm joked back then that Duplantis could wear a few of his sprint shoes to have no excuses afterward. In an interview with the TV channel “NRK,” he then said that losing to a pole vaulter would be “a bit embarrassing.”
Duplantis’ Training With Fred Kerley
Duplantis previously ran the 100 meters as a teenager in 10.57 seconds. Warholm was not significantly faster at 17, running 10.49 seconds. Accordingly, Duplantis approaches Wednesday’s duel in Zurich with confidence: “I have a good chance,” said the Swede. He is preparing as seriously as if it were for an Olympic medal. On Monday, Duplantis trained the start with Fred Kerley, the American who sprinted to Olympic silver in Paris over 100 meters.
Such showcase fights are surprisingly rare. Usain Bolt raced against a bus in Buenos Aires, Ben Johnson sprinted against a racehorse, Lionel Messi faced off in a penalty shootout against a robot goalie, and Michael Phelps swam against a simulated great white shark.
Usain Bolt gives an Argentine bus no chance.Image: AP DyN
While this generates headlines, it lacks the sporting significance compared to the duel between Warholm and Duplantis. “That was a prerequisite for us,” says co-meeting director Christoph Joho.
But why is the duel happening in Zürich? Weltklasse Zürich has the advantage of being the only Diamond League meeting sponsored by Puma, where both Warholm and Duplantis are under contract. The initiative came from the organizers when they offered to host the duel in Letzigrund in May.
Karsten Warholm is the world record holder in the 400-meter hurdles.Image: keystone
Three Times a Six-Figure Amount
With Puma and Red Bull, also a common sponsor of both, the doors were wide open. “It’s an experiment and a fine line we’re walking,” says Joho. The biggest risk is if Duplantis or Warholm gets injured or falls ill before the event. The event would have to be canceled. A scenario for which the meeting organizers have expanded the cancellation insurance.
Because the train station hall is too short, the Sechseläutenplatz is not flat, and they probably wouldn’t have received a permit on short notice, the duel will take place in Letzigrund. The creators have designed a full evening program around the sprint, with youth races and show acts like breaking. About 2000 tickets were put on sale for this. The sprint between Warholm and Duplantis will start at 21:30 (to be seen on the SRF livestream).
In ZurichImage: KEYSTONE
50 Influencers from Around the World
No starting fee or prize money will be paid. The approximately 50 influencers from around the world who will document the event receive no additional payments besides compensation for travel and accommodation. Both Weltklasse Zurich and the two sponsors are investing a six-figure sum in the showcase duel of the athletic pop stars, which will also be produced with a certain effort for the TV audience.
Clearly, the duel is meant to be a kind of amuse-bouche, where the whole world looks to Zurich and aims to attract new fans to athletics. The main event will then be served on Thursday, where Mondo Duplantis aims to shine in pole vaulting and Karsten Warholm in hurdles.
All Athletics World Records
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All Athletics World Records
Men– 100 Meters: Usain Bolt (JAM), 9.58 seconds, 2009 in Berlin.
source: ap / gero breloer
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