– Next to the Olympics, it is perhaps the second biggest prestigious competition I will go through this year. And it will be a battle. Karsten Warholm stands with the silver medal around his neck and talks about what is important for the rest of the season. He will run the 400 meter hurdles once or three times, and wants to show that he is the best in the world even though he was beaten by Rai Benjamin in Paris. But the prestige battle he is talking about is about something else entirely. In connection with the Diamond League meet in Zurich on September 5, he will run 100 meters against Armand “Mondo” Duplantis. The Norwegian world record holder in the 400 meter hurdles against the Swedish world record holder in the pole vault. Warholm does not take that lightly. – He called for a fight – He called for a fight, and I had to accept. Then we stand there, and it’s mostly for fun, but I’m going to add a bit to it when it first hits, says Warholm to news. CONTRAST: While Karsten Warholm despaired of silver, Armand Duplantis could cheer freely for gold and the world record in Paris. Photo: JOEL MARKLUND / BILDBYRÅN – Are you excited about what you can achieve? – Yes, but I’m more excited about what he can achieve. – Do you feel it would be embarrassing to be beaten by a pole vaulter? – Yes, a little, admits Warholm. It was Duplantis who confirmed the duel to Aftonbladet just before the Olympics. He revealed at the same time that he was in the process of practicing starting from blocks. – I am super motivated. I have rarely looked forward to a competition so much, he told the Swedish newspaper. – Does not do charity work Perhaps it is just such a prestigious duel that Warholm needs after the Olympics. Because even though he has shaken off the immediate disappointment, he does not hide that the Olympic loss against Rai Benjamin still stings. For the first time in his career, he came to a championship optimally prepared without bringing home the gold. – That’s the way it is. Although it tells a lot about the current state, it also tells a lot about the journey we have been on, how much has worked. It is clear that in a long career, you may occasionally have to accept that being relegated to silver place is not the worst thing that can happen, says Warholm. UNUSUAL VALUE: Silver creates more desire for revenge than joy for Karsten Warholm. Photo: VEGARD GRØTT / BILDBYRÅN He pays tribute to Rai Benjamin for the way the Americans have dealt with their defeats when the outcome has been the opposite. He also pays tribute to the way his rival solved the Olympic final, and acknowledges that Benjamin deserved the victory. – In a way, he does that, but it is not charity that we do. I would never give it to anyone because I thought they deserved it, but it is clear that he has certainly made a performance that makes him deserve it, says Warholm. – Must win back the throne The 28-year-old says that he will undergo an evaluation before he decides what the next big goal is. He also confirms that this could have been about betting on a different exercise than the 400 meter hurdles. – It could have been if I won here, but now I feel that I have to win back the throne, he says. But the first big goal is to avoid a slightly embarrassing loss in 100 metres. – To be honest, I don’t think there will be a super time for any of us. But I will be disappointed if I don’t manage to get below 10.40, I think, says Warholm. The former decathlon champion is on the books with a personal record of 10.49, set in 2017. Duplantis then ran his best 100 meters in 2018, at 10.57. Published 12.08.2024, at 06.12
ttn-69
Karsten Warholm fears an embarrassing loss against Armand Duplantis – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
