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 one-versus-one 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 Brussels 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 vs 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 great people to do it as well. I don’t think you can do it every day but it was super fun.”
Bol said that she “would love to race Keely [Hodgkinson] over 600m” and added that “we’re good friends but it’s a bit far so I’ll have to think about it”.
The prospect of Bol and Hodgkinson in a 600m race would be exciting and intriguing. The pair currently hold the world indoor 500m and 600m bests, with Bol clocking 65.63 in the 500m and Hodgkinson 83.41 over 600m.
With her 400m speed, Bol would surely get out the blocks quicker but Hodgkinson is the Olympic 800m champion for a reason and would close incredibly well.
Keely Hodgkinson (Getty)
For Tebogo, the prospect of an ultimate 300m race against Fred Kerley, Zharnel Hughes and Matt Hudson-Smith might be too good to turn down.
The Olympic 200m champion is also the fastest man ever over the 300m, after his 30.69 in South Africa earlier this year, surpassing the likes of Wayde van Niekerk, Michael Johnson and Usain Bolt in the process.
With Kerley calling for a 300m showdown on Twitter, Tebogo now wants to get involved in the action and believes that all of them could go under his world best.
“They just have to put the date on it,” Tebogo said. “It would be the US v Great Britain and then I’m the only African in that field. It’s going to be a great one.
Letsile Tebogo (Getty)
“There are a lot of rivalries amongst us athletes. I personally feel that if somebody puts up a challenge, then World Athletics should step in instead of just every single meet. It’ll be interesting to see something like that once a year.”
Exhibitions like this will have to wait until next season and Bol and Tebogo’s immediate focus is on the 400m hurdles and 200m respectively in Brussels.
Bol is on an unbeaten streak of 23 Diamond League races in the 400m hurdles while Tebogo potentially has eyes on Yohan Blake’s meeting record of 19.26 over half a lap.
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