It all started a year ago during one of the many training sessions that the two athletes share together. Both are already legends in their respective disciplines: Armand Duplantis holds the pole vault world record and shakes up the rankings every time he jumps, while Warholm is the master of the 400m hurdles. Nevertheless, they were each other's rivals and what started as a joke has turned into a serious challenge that has the athletics world on tenterhooks.

When it comes to 100m exhibition races, this one will undoubtedly attract attention. After their handshake deal, what was once a joke is now reality.

Both athletes have many titles to their name. Norwegian Warholm is the current world record holder in the 400m hurdles, an Olympic gold and silver medallist and a three-time world champion. Swedish-born Duplantis, who hails from the United States, is a two-time Olympic champion. He has broken the pole vault world record 10 times, most recently at the Silesia Diamond League meeting last week. However, all that will be put aside this Thursday as she faces a challenge that isn't his usual discipline.

Duplantis has long insisted that one of his main strengths in the pole vault is his speed on the runway, even though it's only 40 metres long. However, his work is always focused on running that short distance at over 37 kilometres per hour with the pole in hand. This gives him certain qualities to believe that he can be highly competitive in the 100m. He has a best time of 10.57 seconds over 100m, wind-assisted, set in 2018 - a time better than many specialist athletes in the event.

Meanwhile, Warholm, known for his aggressive starts in the hurdles, has a personal best of 10.49 seconds, set in 2017. More importantly, he's a very ambitious man and won't let his friend beat him in a challenge that has become the focus of world athletics this week.

"He said I looked fast and I said, 'Let's race,'" Duplantis explained. "With my ego and how high I think of myself, I had to accept it," explained the Norwegian. Neither of them wants to lose, even though they have to compete in their respective events the next day.

In Warholm's case, he will be facing a distance that is four times longer, so Wednesday's race won't be a major drain on his energy. It will be more of a mental challenge if he loses to the jumper.

"My expectation is to win. I'm just trying to finish before him, that's all that matters. I think he's probably underestimating my speed in general," said Duplantis, who is convinced that he can win. Duplantis added, "I won the Olympics this year and he came second!" - perhaps in an attempt to sow some doubt in the Norwegian's mind.

Warholm, who set the world record of 45.94 seconds when she won gold at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics, had to settle for silver behind American Rai Benjamin in Paris last month. Everyone is wondering what will happen. Duplantis is a vaulter and while he clearly has the speed, experts believe Warholm may be more comfortable with this challenge. He has already admitted, "It would be more embarrassing for me if you beat me than for you if I beat you."

One thing is for sure, nobody will miss this race. Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo, who will be up against a strong American quintet including Fred Kerley in Zurich, said: "I will definitely watch the race, it looks interesting. However, Tebogo said he had not yet decided which athlete to support. Tebogo wouldn't commit to which side he was on. "Obviously I'm with Team Mondo! But Warholm will be a tough competitor. I'll decide when I land in Zurich."

Everything is in place for an exhibition. It will be the best way to kick off another edition of the Diamond League in Zurich. Warholm is confident of his advantages. "I think my block starts and top speed will be my biggest strengths against Mondo," he said. And Duplantis insists that while his rival may be fast at the start of the race, no one knows what will happen afterwards. "I definitely do more sprint training than people think. I think I'll surprise a lot of people. I wouldn't have challenged Warholm to a race if I didn't think I could win."

Both have exchanged compliments. They respect each other, and although it all started as a joke, there has never been a lack of respect. "Mondo's strength is going to be his ability to accelerate, especially in the first 40-50 metres," said his rival. 

There are no medals to be won in the event, and probably no world records to be broken. What is at stake is the personal honour of two athletics legends who have decided to innovate and offer their fans an incredible spectacle of incalculable value. A pole vaulter against a hurdler over 100 metres. Who can beat that?