)
Armand Duplantis beats Karsten Warholm in a 100m sprint exhibition showcasing surprising speed and setting a personal best.
Two-time Olympic pole vault champion Armand Duplantis showcased his sprinting prowess on Wednesday, clinching an unexpected victory over Karsten Warholm in a highly anticipated 100-meter exhibition sprint.
The event, held at Zurich's Letzigrund Stadium, was a precursor to the city's esteemed Diamond League meet, drawing considerable attention from athletics enthusiasts worldwide.
)
03:30 - 05.09.2024
5 key battles to look forward to at Zurich Diamond League
The penultimate leg of the Diamond League takes place in Zurich on Thursday with but what are the major showdowns expected in the Swiss city?
Armand Duplantis has been a dominant force in the pole vault arena revising the world record an astounding ten times.
However, on this day, he swapped his pole vaulting gear for sprinter’s spikes in a friendly face-off against Norway’s Warholm, the formidable 400-meter hurdles world record holder.
The crowd was treated to an unexpected display of speed from an athlete best known for his aerial exploits.
"I'm pretty fired up," Duplantis said after the race, clearly elated by his performance.
His time of 10.37 seconds not only secured him the win but also marked a personal best, shaving 0.2 seconds off his previous record set during high school in 2018. Warholm, who is no slouch on the track, finished close behind in 10.47 seconds.
Warholm graciously acknowledged his defeat, stating, "I've got to give it to Mondo. He beat me today fair and square. It was a great race. He was out of the blocks fast."
)
15:30 - 03.09.2024
How did it happen? Details emerge on horrific attack on Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei by Kenyan boyfriend
Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei is nursing severe burns following an alleged attack by her boyfriend in Trans Nzoia, Kenya.
The unique setup of the race, complete with the athletes discarding boxing-style dressing gowns before taking their marks, added a theatrical element to the showdown.
Among the spectators was Fred Kerley, the 2022 world 100m champion, who had earlier assisted Duplantis with his starts in preparation for the race.
)
18:30 - 03.09.2024
'There's never going to be another Usain Bolt'- American sprint legend dismisses comparisons with current sprint stars
A prominent American sprinter believes no current athlete will surpass Usain Bolt's unique and unmatched track and field legacy
The idea for the exhibition came about earlier in the season when Duplantis and Warholm were debating who would be quicker in a sprint.
While their times might not qualify them for Olympic-level sprint competitions, they are impressive nonetheless signaling that both athletes possess speed that transcends their primary events.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)