Olympic pole vault champion and world record holder Mondo Duplantis beat Karsten Warholm, the Olympic 400m hurdles silver medallist, and world record holder, over 100m in Zurich on Wednesday night.
The race, over a year in the making, was won by Duplantis in 10.37seconds, by a tenth of a second over Warholm. Duplantis reacted first out the blocks and hit his top speed faster, holding his form better and staring Warholm down on the line.
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The pair, both current world champions and world record holders in their disciplines, have a combined four Olympic medals (three gold, one silver) and 11 world records (nine for Duplantis, two for Warholm).
Neither had ran 100m competitively for over six years; Warholm early in his professional career and Duplantis during his high-school days.
“I’ve got to give it to Mondo, he was out the blocks fast. He beat me fair and square,” said Warholm, with the pair embracing at the line, then sharing a moment to look up at fireworks from the stadium afterwards.
Duplantis led the entire race. He was quicker to react, more aggressive and powerful in his first three strides, into and through his acceleration phase faster and in control once he had a lead. He even had time to turn his head at the finish and stare Warholm down.
Warholm will race tomorrow in the men’s 400m hurdles, a Diamond League event, and do so in a Swedish vest after losing the race to Duplantis, who will compete in the pole vault.
(Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)