Fraser-Pryce challenges pole vault world record holder Armand Duplantis to a 100m face off
Tamoy Ashman / Our Today
Reigning 100m World Champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has challenged Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis to a 100m sprint.
Known for her jovial personality, Fraser-Pryce has over the years engaged in banter with many of her fellow athletes during interviews.
At a press conference ahead of the upcoming Diamond League event in Brussels today (September 1), Fraser-Pryce posed as a Jamaican journalist questioning Duplantis about his running skills.
“How fast will you say you can do in a 100m against me?” asked the eight-time Olympic medallist, to which Duplantis replied: “I would beat you.”
But, according to Fraser-Pryce, “survey says that’s a lie”.
Puzzled by how he would come to such a view, she then asked Duplantis to explain how sprinting and pole vault are a like.
Smiling, Duplantis shared that there is some running involved in pole vault, 45m of it to be exact.
At just 22 years old, Duplantis is the pole vault world record holder with a height of 6.21m and the current Olympic champion and World champion.
But, it was his previous history of sprinting that made him confident that he could beat three-time Olympic gold medallist.
“I ran the 100m a few times in high school in 2016,” boasted Duplantis.
Doing the math, Fraser-Pryce pointed out that was six years ago but Duplantis stood firm, adding that he might even be faster now.
“Wanna bet?” asked Fraser-Pryce.
“I would wanna bet… a lot,” he responded.
The pair then closed the deal with a handshake after which a laughing Duplantis exclaimed: “Next year, in Brussels. Me against Shelly-Ann!”
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