– I have a question for Mondo, straight from Jamaica. It is September 11, 2022, and the press conference the day before the Diamond League vote in Brussels is about to wrap up. Then the Jamaican sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce grabs the microphone and looks straight at the Swedish-American pole vaulting phenomenon Armand “Mondo” Duplantis. Then comes the question: – How fast would you say you can run 100 metres? Against me? – What did you say? Duplantis answers first. After a quick round of clarification, the answer comes: – I had hit you, he says – and smiles slyly. – That is a lie, counters Fracer-Pryce. The bet that nothing came of Duplantis shows that he ran some good 100 meters in high school. And claims that he has become “much faster” since then. – Do you want to bet? Fracer-Pryce asks. – I want to bet, replies Duplantis. Then they take each other’s hands. – Next year, 100 metres, me against Shelly-Ann, states Duplantis. There has not yet been a duel, nor is there anything to indicate that there will be. – We tried to fix it and set up a competition, but nothing came of it, says Duplantis to news almost two years later. WHO IS THE FASTEST? On Wednesday evening, Karsten Warholm and Armand Duplantis will get the answer. Photo: Fredrik Tombra / news Warholm’s manhood put to the test But he had blood in his teeth with a view to testing himself in a 100-metre race. He should find his opponent a bit on impulse. On 20 July 2023, he prepared for the Diamond League vote at the Stade Louis II in Monaco. A Norwegian world record holder did the same. Karsten Warholm tells how he remembers it. – We drifted and did a bit of sprinting and such, and then we kept discussing spiked shoes. Then we got into it, and then he challenged me. Without thinking, the man in me just had to agree to it. I can’t bear to be challenged and say no, says Warholm. They took each other’s hands. And already at a press conference on the same day, the world heard about the plans. – I probably have a worse chance of winning against Warholm than I would have with Shelly-Ann. Absolutely sure. But I would very much like to do it, and I think he is quite keen too, said Duplantis. – When a pole vaulter thinks he can beat me at 100 metres, it’s clear that my manhood is not up to the challenge. I think I can beat him, so of course I had to accept, replied Warholm. Duplantis: – Rejected me Well a month later, the duel was again the topic of a press conference. This time in Zurich. Then Duplantis revealed that Warholm had been skeptical at first. – When I first mentioned it, he rejected me a bit. Now he acted as if it would be a good competition, but when I first suggested it, it was “ok, do you really think you can beat me?”. That was the feeling I got, said the Swede. – I don’t think you would have challenged me if you didn’t think you had a fair chance of winning. And I wouldn’t accept the challenge if I didn’t think I was going to humble you, so I think it would be a good fight, Warholm then replied. MOOD AND SERIOUSNESS: The day before the duel, Karsten Warholm and Armand Duplantis were grilled by the old 110 meter hurdles legend Colin Jackson. Lyles saw the money at Warholm Next to them sat the fastest man in the world, Noah Lyles, and smiled. Then he was asked who he saw as the favourite. – You can use blocks, he said, pointing at Warholm. – I’ve never seen you use blocks, he said and pointed his index finger at Duplantis. – I think I put my money on Karsten. Just for that simple reason, he concluded. There was no going back. Warholm and Duplantis now meet for a 100 meter duel at the Letzigrund stadium, under the auspices of the organizers of the Diamond League race in Zurich and two joint sponsors. You can watch the duel on Wednesday evening on NRK1. The broadcast starts on 21.15. – Difficult to understand – It is still a bit difficult to understand that it has actually become a real thing out of it. And that it has become as big as it has become. It’s absolutely incredible, says Duplantis the day before the race. – Who do you think will win? – Me. I think I’m going to win. – Why? – Because I am a winner. How do you say it: “Winners win”. That’s my mentality, that I want to win and I don’t think about anything else, he says. Perhaps not surprisingly, Karsten Warholm predicts another winner. – I actually think I will win. May I say more? No, says Sunnmøringen to news and smiles broadly. Who will win the 100 meters? The poll is closed. 44606 votes in total Published 04.09.2024, at 18.12
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This is how the unlikely super duel between Warholm and Duplantis came to be – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
