Mondo Duplantis and Karsten Warholm Agree They Need To Race at 100m
By Jonathan Gault
ZURICH — At a pre-meet presser today for Thursday’s Weltklasse Zurich meet, pole vault world record holder Mondo Duplantis and 400-meter hurdles world record holder Karsten Warholm agreed they need to race each other at 100m after LetsRun asked them about it.
Prior to the Monaco Diamond League in July, Athletics HQ shared a one-minute clip of Karsten Warholm and Mondo Duplantis talking about the possibility of racing each other over 100 meters. It’s a fun idea. Both are the undisputed kings of their events, both of which require a good amount of speed. But neither has run a 100 for years — Warholm’s pb of 10.49 dates from 2017, while Mondo ran 10.57 (with a +2.1 wind) as a high school senior in 2018.
I asked the two world record holders what the chances were of them actually getting together and racing a 100, one-on-one, and it produced one of the most entertaining back-and-forths I’ve ever seen at a press conference. Clearly, it’s a topic that excites both of them. You can either click the link below (cued up to the exchange) to see it in its entirety or read the highlights below.
Duplantis: It’s something that I would like to do and I would like to just see where I’m and to run a 100 because I feel like I do enough sprint training where it would be fun to see where I’m at.
Warholm: I’m a bit mixed about it because probably people think that I can run super fast. I don’t think I will see the number 9 on the clock. It’s been a lot of years since I’ve run the 100 meters and I know it’s the same with you so it would be just fun. Actually, it would be a great matchup. I would really like it to happen. The only thing that I really want it to be is I want it for both of us to be at a time where we feel like we can do it good actually and it’s a fun challenge. It’s not like woah, someone pulled his hamstring right before Olympics. That is no good. So we need to find the right timing but I think both of us are definitely down. We are not guys to dodge the competition.
Duplantis: When I first suggested it to him, he blew me off a little bit as far as thinking it would be a competition or not. Now he’s acting like it would be a great competition on the mic. But when I first suggested it to him, he was kind of like, oh okay, you really think you can beat me? All right, whatever. That was more the vibe that I got.
Warholm: This is what I always do to level the playing field. Now I’m applying the pressure to you and you need to feel some of the nerves as well. But of course, I think you would never challenge me if you didn’t think you had a fair chance of winning, and I wouldn’t accept if I thought that I was going to embarrass you. So I think actually it would be a good match–
At this point, Noah Lyles, sitting to their right, has had enough and interjects.
Lyles: Just say you’re better than him. Oh my gosh, all this twinkle-toeing around!
Warholm: We’re not Americans, okay!
Lyles was then asked by moderator Colin Jackson who he would bet on if the two actually raced.
Lyles: Well you (pointing to Warholm) know how to use blocks. I’ve never seen you (pointing to Duplantis) in blocks. I think I’m going to put my money on Karsten right here, just for that simple reason. Because you have to use blocks.
Duplantis then explains that he was planning on practicing blocks before the race.
Duplantis: I’m aware that going into the race, I am going to be a tad bit of an underdog. I think I’m going to surprise some people and open some minds.
Warholm: Let’s be honest, I have a lot more to lose than you.
Duplantis: Yes. And that’s nice.
Warholm: It’s gonna happen.
Who wins the WR 100m showdown?
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Talk about who you think would win on our messageboard. MB: Mondo vs Warholm at 100m – Who you got? The two stars have basically agreed to race after we asked them about it
Much more happened at the Zurich Press co/nference. Read all about it here:
Josh Kerr Responds to Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Noah Lyles Responds to NBAers, & Mondo vs Warholm at 100m?
