Michael Johnson has openly acknowledged his prediction error after Mondo Duplantis won a 100m sprint against Karsten Warholm in Zurich.
The American sprinting legend found himself admitting a misjudgment following Duplantis’s surprising triumph in the friendly race that took place on September 4 at Stadion Letzigrund, the venue for the Zurich Diamond League.
Johnson, a former Olympic champion, had initially expressed skepticism about Duplantis’s chances in the sprint event, given the odds heavily favored the pole vaulter’s inexperience in this discipline. Duplantis defied expectations by clocking an impressive 10.37 seconds to defeat the seasoned Norwegian hurdler, Warholm.
In a notable turn of events, Johnson took to social media to concede his mistake, stating, “That 54% was right! Mondo!!” on his X [formerly Twitter] account, and extended his congratulations to Duplantis.
This statement marked a dramatic shift from his previous skepticism, where Johnson had confidently declared, “54% of people are wrong,” underestimating Duplantis’s sprinting abilities.
Despite his earlier doubts, Johnson was among the first to celebrate Duplantis’s victory, showcasing his sportsmanship and respect for the athlete’s versatility.
This race added a new dimension to the narrative surrounding Duplantis, who is widely recognized for his pole vaulting prowess but demonstrated notable sprinting skills in Zurich.
Michael Johnson has been a vocal figure in both critiquing and supporting Duplantis’s career. He has frequently discussed the unique challenges and expectations placed on the Swedish-American athlete.
Johnson previously noted, “This is a problem for pole vault. WRs [World Records] get attention because they’re usually special. The guy breaking them doesn’t make it feel special. Competition gets attention. He has no competition. The problem is not his fault, but it’s a problem.”
Despite his critical stance, Johnson has also been quick to praise Duplantis during significant achievements, such as his world record-setting performance at the Paris Olympics. Johnson remarked, “You know when Mondo Duplantis is competing, you are always on world record watch.
He essentially breaks world records when he wants. He has broken world records at World Championships and European Championships but this is the Olympics.
He loves the big moments and big stages,” during his coverage for BBC Sport. This blend of criticism and praise highlights the complex and evolving view of Duplantis’s career in athletics.
