By now the entire track and field world is aware of the unique and spectacular opening to the Zurich Diamond League. While most of the events are slated for September 5, pole vault record holder Armand Duplantis and 400m hurdler Karsten Warholm will kick things off with a special race. What event? Mondo Duplantis and Warholm will clash in a one-on-one 100m dash.

While the Paris 2024 400m hurdles silver medalist seemly has the upper hand on paper, Duplantis seems unfazed. “I don’t care about the time. I mean, if I run 10.30 and I lose, that’s worse than running 10.60 and winning. So for me, it’s, it’s really just getting to the line first.” the Paris 2024 gold medalist told Citius Mag.

However, Warholm announced just how fast he needed to go to beat the pole vaulter. “I’m hoping that I can see at least 10.3. That would be very nice. I know that also if I, you know, really, really do it I can go even faster. But you know you get one shot, you get one try, and I mean 10.3 would be good.” the three-time 400m hurdles world champion told Citius Mag.

When asked if that would be enough to beat Mondo Duplantis, Warholm confidently agreed. Duplantis has become the man to beat in his sport. The track and field star’s awe-inspiring 6.25m vault in Paris has pushed the sport to new limits. While every vault begins with a strong sprint, the odds are still against the Swedish sporting icon.

Hurdling is essentially sprinting with obstacles, and Warholm has long been the dominant force—until the USA’s Rai Benjamin beat him in Paris. So, it’s only natural that the 400m specialist would get even faster with the hurdles removed. The track and field world already witnessed something similar when Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone showcased her speed during the 4x400m relay.

The women’s 400m hurdles world record holder, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, not only kept up with the likes of Gabby Thomas but also played a pivotal role in giving Team USA a massive lead. Similarly, Karsten Warholm has experience running the 100m sprint at the collegiate level, boasting a personal best of 10.49 seconds in 2017. On the other hand, Armand “Mondo” Duplantis clocked a personal best of 10.57 seconds in 2018. However, there’s one thing the Swede will bring to the stadium: his unparalleled drive and competitiveness, which have made him a record-breaking force in pole vaulting.

Will Mondo Duplantis’ star power come into effect?

Besides pushing the envelope in pole vaulting, the 24-year-old phenom’s showmanship remains unmatched. No single athlete captivated the crowd at Stade de France quite like Duplantis. His charisma on the field, paired with his athletic prowess, draws fans in and unsettles competitors. Confidence and showmanship are tools that Noah Lyles has famously used for years to shake his opponents’ confidence, and it seems Duplantis is following a similar playbook. Judging by the 100m results in Paris, one could argue that it worked wonders for Lyles, and Duplantis might be looking to leverage the same approach.

Mondo Duplantis is garnering much support from the pole-vaulting community as the underdog on paper. “As pole vaulters, we have to root for Mondo. But, it’s going to be really close. I think, I’ve said this before, I think Mondo’s top speed might be faster, but Karsten’s top speed endurance is going to be better,” said Paris 2024 silver medalist Katie Moon. Angelica Moser also voiced support for her fellow Swiss athlete.

While Karsten Warholm’s fans could level the playing field, it is safe to say the star power lies with the two-time Olympic gold medalist. Although the athletes have exchanged a few verbal jabs ahead of the contest, they don’t harbor any disdain for one another. Despite the hype, both Duplantis and Warholm will approach the race calmly and with their respective game plans. So, only time will tell who comes out on top.