Nine votes for Warholm, three votes for Duplantis: these are the predictions of the athletics pros ahead of the 100 m showdown in the Letzigrund, and their prediction is wrong.
The Norwegian loses in 10.47 seconds to the Swede in 10.37.
The Scandinavian kings of athletics, the world record holders in the pole vault with Armand Duplantis and the 400 m hurdles with Karsten Warholm, competed against each other in the sprint at Letzigrund on Wednesday evening. It all began in 2023 at the meeting in Monaco, when Duplantis teased Warholm by saying that he would beat him in the 100 m and suggested that they race. Warholm agreed, and the bet was sealed with a handshake.
Weltklasse Zürich, together with the athletes and their sponsors, spared no effort to bring this duel to the Letzigrund. The whole thing was a show, but it wasn't a joke. On the contrary: everyone gave serious thought to predicting the winner. Including the dozen athletes who appeared before the media in the run-up to Weltklasse Zürich. And they not only made a prediction, but also gave reasons for it.
The pro-Warholm faction argued that their favorite is used to starting from the blocks and that he has a slightly better record over 100 m than Duplantis (10.49 in 2017 compared to 10.57 in 2018). The Norwegian's speed in the second half of the race also speaks in his favor.
The trio that predicted Duplantis as the winner pointed to his remarkable speed values, even with a long pole in his hand. If he could now also generate speed with the arm movement, then he would be able to catch Warholm. The American, who competes for Sweden, had also trained in the USA with Fred Kerley, the Olympic bronze medallist in the 100m in Paris.
Co-meeting director Andreas Hediger hoped for a race in which Duplantis would take a clear lead, Warholm would close the gap and Swiss Timing would be allowed to decide who had won at the finish. It didn't turn out that way: in front of 3000 paying spectators, Duplantis took the lead as expected, but could not be caught. With no wind, he was faster than ever before. 10.37 over 100 m as a non-sprinter - incredibly strong.
Duplantis triumphed, he escaped the great disgrace of cashing in the betting price. The defeated Norwegian Warholm will have to compete in the 400 m hurdles in a Swedish shirt (!) at World Class on Thursday.
