Mondo Duplantis, a renowned pole vault world-record holder, playfully inquired about the recent altercation between Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek at the United States national championships during a press conference in Poland. The incident, involving a stare down and a push, stirred up excitement for their upcoming clash in the 100-meter event on the Diamond League circuit.
During the press conference, Duplantis brought up the incident, prompting Lyles to humorously deflect by quoting his coach’s advice of “No comment.” Despite the tension, Duplantis expressed his enjoyment of the situation.
Duplantis, known for setting his 13th world record in Hungary, joked with Lyles about not breaking any more records to give him a chance to win a special ring. Meanwhile, the focus shifted to the anticipated showdown between Lyles and Kishane Thompson in the men’s 100-meter event, with Bednarek reconciling with Lyles ahead of the competition.
Thompson, currently holding the fastest time of the year at 9.75 seconds, adds to the excitement of the race. Lyles, the defending champion, remains confident about the competitive field, acknowledging the heightened anticipation with Thompson’s participation in the event.