Two huge names in athletics took up a new event back in 2024 to see who would be fastest over 100 metres – Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis or Danish 400m hurdler Karsten Warholm?

The two Olympic gold medallists settled the score at the Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich on the 4th of September prior to the Diamond League events. The event was put together with the help of big sponsors Puma and Red Bull after a clip went viral on social media in 2023 showing the two discussing who would win in a race and agreeing to compete “sometime after the world’s”, after discovering their personal bests in the event were very similar.

This video caused hype for the fans who pushed for the event to happen, and a packed stadium awaited the clash.

Speaking before the event, Armand Duplantis said the prospect of the 100m contest helped him maintain drive and focus as the Diamond League Zurich approached. With the Olympics concluding just a month prior, and only a few smaller events left in the season at the time, athletes had been known to struggle for motivation, but Duplantis’ competitive edge in the contest kept him going.

He said: “The exhibition race is helping me to keep the motivation high, keep myself in good shape, and keep me hungry.”

Armand Duplantis vs Karsten Warholm Over 100m

With all the fighting talk and preparation complete, it was to the start line on the evening of the 4th of September to see who would come out on top.

As many predicted, it was a highly tight and competitive race. Duplantis got the marginally better start and surprisingly pulled away from the 400m athlete in the closing stages, taking the line at a remarkable 10.37s. As a spectator, you wouldn’t know you were watching a pole vaulter and a 400m runner, as the pace was electric throughout.

Staggeringly, an athlete who’s not even a sprinter was less than 0.6 of a second off Noah Lyles’ time that won him gold at the Paris Olympics earlier that year. Given his qualities in events completely different to his own, it won’t surprise many that Mondo Duplantis is very successful in his field. The athlete won a gold medal of his own in Paris, which will look good next to his gold from Tokyo.

The pole vaulter did so in style, too, breaking his own world record from Tokyo to vault a mind-blowing 6.25m to beat all the other competitors in pretty comfortable circumstances, considering the typical competitiveness at the Olympic Games.

Karsten Warholm had a very successful Paris Games too, running for a silver medal in his home event of the 400m hurdles, beaten only by USA athlete Rai Benjamin. The Danish athlete was frustrated with his performance, however, as he was unable to repeat the glory of Tokyo, where he smashed the world record by three-quarters of a second, and became the first person in history to run a 400m hurdles in under 46 seconds.

It was a season of second place for the Dane as he was beaten again here by Duplantis, who was gracious in victory in this exhibition contest. The cheers of the crowd and the smiles of the athletes were evidence of a successful exhibition contest.

Aryna Sabalenka may have been all smiles after unveiling her new Nike outfit for this year’s US Open, but the reaction from tennis fans has been far less enthusiastic.

In the modern game of tennis, fashion has become almost as much a part of a player’s identity as their serve, with on-court apparel often reflecting the player’s personality and playing style.

With the world No. 1 revealing the kit she will wear in New York, it was clear that Nike had opted for one of their boldest designs yet, though, that seems to have backfired.

Aryna Sabalenka’s Nike Outfit Criticised

Andrew Couldridge via Reuters

Sabalenka’s outfit features a radioactive orange-themed top and shorts, combined with a black mesh overlay, a look seemingly intended to reflect her explosive power and aggressive brand of tennis.

While the concept remains ambitious, many supporters feel the execution has fallen well short of the mark.

The design represents a notable departure from the outfits that the world No. 1 has worn at the year’s previous Grand Slams. Her Australian Open attire featured an energetic blend of pink, orange, and black, while her French Open kit embraced a striking red-and-black colour scheme that seemed to suit her aggressive playing style far more naturally.

The mesh concept, however, is not entirely new for Nike. Earlier this year, Jannik Sinner retained his Wimbledon title wearing a jacket featuring a similar perforated mesh design, engineered to maximise comfort while introducing a more modern aesthetic.

The mesh design also serves a practical purpose, providing greater breathability as temperatures climbed to 33°C during this year’s championship.

Nike have now carried this same philosophy across the pond into the US Open collection, though, the reception to Sabalenka’s outfit has been considerably less favourable.

This is not the first time the sportswear giant has faced criticism over the Belarusian’s Grand Slam wardrobe, with supporters questioning why the world No. 1 had not received a bespoke outfit at the French Open after noticing fellow Nike athlete Oksana Selekhmeteva wearing the same red-and-black design.

Following the reveal of Sabalenka’s latest outfit, it did not take long for social media to erupt, with many fans accusing Nike of completely missing the mark.

Tennis Fans Dislike Sabalenka’s Attire

Andrew Couldridge via Reuters

One supporter on X claimed it looked like the tennis star was going fishing, while others have claimed that Nike have embarrassed her.

Others were even more scathing in their assessment, with one fan saying: “Words cannot express how much I absolutely hate this kit. What in the actual f*** is Nike doing?”

Regardless of the reaction to her wardrobe, Sabalenka’s tennis will once again command the greatest attention in New York as she looks to secure the fifth Grand Slam of her career.

The Belarusian star will arrive at Flushing Meadows chasing history, bidding to become just the third woman in the Open Era—and only the fifth player of all time—to win three consecutive US Open titles when the tournament gets underway on the 23rd of August.

That attention will only intensify as she teams up with Novak Djokovic in one of the most anticipated partnerships of the tournament’s mixed doubles competition.

Football and gaming fans just received their biggest insight yet into the new and improved features of EA Sports FC 27. The developers’ Gameplay Deep Dive and accompanying Gameplay Pitch Notes covered the changes in every area of the pitch, with emphasis on giving autonomy back to the gamers.

The EA gaming community has criticised the overreliance on AI assistance in recent editions and EA have listened to the fans with their latest installment. The result is greater control across every mode within the game.

EA Sports have been building anticipation for the game with a steady stream of key information, as well as cover star Kylian Mbappé. But the deep dive into the new gameplay features is the biggest indicator as to what EA Sports FC 27 will look like.

Here’s a closer look at the biggest changes this year ahead of the game’s imminent release.

Manual Defending Gets the Biggest Makeover

EA Sports

Starting from the back and working their way forward, EA Sports FC 27 has taken a lot of power away from the AI defenders. Rather than mindlessly chasing the ball, they will instead wait for the gamer to take control and decide how they want to approach the attacker.

Positively, there are still scenarios where the AI defender will try to win the ball, for example, if an attacker runs into them. The developers have also reduced the interception range of AI defenders. This has helped to hand the defensive decision-making back to the gamer.

Improvements to Teammate Contain and jockeying speed are the biggest changes to Manual Defending and will help AI teammates to spot attacking danger earlier in the sequence of play.

Corner Kicks and Crossing Overhauled

EA Sports

The offensive side of EA Sports FC has also improved considerably, with the changes reflecting the chaos of modern set pieces.

After choosing where to deliver the corner, the camera now shifts to the penalty box, allowing the gamer to control the actions of attacking players. This allows greater control over runs, shielding, and switching.

The new Avoidance mechanic helps with this, allowing for smoother movement through crowded areas. Players contesting for the ball during corner kicks will also no longer automatically move into the best position to connect with the ball, providing a greater command over set piece strategy.

The changes to crossing also provide more freedom for the user. Rather than targeting a specific player with a cross, there is now more emphasis on delivering into space and dangerous areas. This has been introduced alongside greater precision for headers from corners and free kicks.

Passing and Through Balls Become More Manual

EA Sports

The emphasis on greater user control continues with the tweaks to passing. Through balls, ground passes, and lobbed passes now require more directional input from the gamer. This not only benefits attacking gameplay, but complements the defensive overhaul too.

Gamers are rewarded for the accurate aiming of passes, whilst giving defensive players the chance to intercept passes if they read the play correctly.

Unlike crossing, through passes are no longer geared towards hitting open spaces. The emphasis is on the skill of the gamer, all the while maintaining the vast range of creative passing options available to them.

More Intelligent Attacking AI

EA Sports

One of the most exciting updates is to the attacking AI’s improved off-the-ball movement. EA have introduced a new system, Attacking Spatial Awareness, that helps AI attackers to make smarter runs that avoid defenders.

Interestingly, the type of run made by the attacker is affected by the context of the attack. The developers have introduced new curved runs triggered by the gamer that also works in tandem with an improved awareness of the offside trap.

The updated spatial awareness system also helps AI attackers to identify open passing lanes to run into. And rather than running continuously into these spaces, AI attackers will stop after a certain distance before returning to their position, helping to maintain formational shape.

Much like the game’s exciting new social hub, AI attackers are being given more freedom to roam.

Major Boosts to Dribbling, PlayStyles, and Attributes

EA Sports

EA’s new Off-Balance Dribbling helps the game’s very best dribblers to shine during physical duels with defenders. Dribblers with the required balance, dribbling, and agility attributes will hold onto possession when under pressure from defenders. If a defender engages the skilled dribbler with shoulder charges or any form of contact, the dribbler will be more likely to stay in control of the ball and ride the challenge.

The most popular PlayStyles, such as the Finesse Shot and the Incisive Pass, have been adjusted to reduce the gap between these unique traits and core player attributes. This has resulted in player ratings that are more accurate and meaningful, regardless of whether they have a PlayStyle applied or not.