Karsten vs. Mondo
Wednesday 4 September, 2024
KARSTEN V MONDO: Mondo Duplantis beats fellow world record holder Karsten Warholm in one-on-one 100-meter clash

After months of anticipation, Mondo Duplantis beat Karsten Warholm to win their head-to-head 100-meter sprint and claim bragging rights over his fellow world-record holder, clocking a time of 10.37 seconds. 

  • Duplantis clocked a time of 10.37 secs at Stadion Letzigrund, Zürich

  • Swedish pole vaulter took on Norwegian 400-meter hurdler in an eagerly-awaited 100-meter sprint

  • The two world record holders faced off at Letzigrund Stadium the day before the Weltklasse Zürich Diamond League meeting

The event, hosted in collaboration between PUMA, Red Bull and Weltklasse Zürich, marked the culmination of a long-standing back-and-forth between two iconic athletes, which had been simmering since July 2023. Duplantis’ victory means Warholm will wear his opponent’s Swedish Athletics Association kit at tomorrow’s Weltklasse Zürich Diamond League meet as part of a friendly wager between two of track and field’s biggest global stars. 

Speaking after winning the race, Duplantis said: “I knew it, I believed in it. Don’t play with me. That’s the only thing that’s really on my mind right now. I believed, I just had to wake everybody else up.”

Commenting on the result of the race, Warholm said: “For myself, it wasn’t a great race. But I gave it all that I had. Mondo was surprisingly good, so I‘ve got to give it to him. He was a real fighter there, he got out the blocks fast and I never got to catch up, so that’s how it goes. But it was very good and I’m proud that we put on such an event. It was great.”

The race transpired after a short clip shared on social media last summer, in which the pair discussed the prospect of racing one another, had sports fans across the globe fizzing with excitement. Tonight, the intriguing prospect became a reality as two of track and field’s biggest global stars finally got to see who is fastest.

PUMA House Opens Paris
Paris, July 27th, 2024
PUMA House Opens in Paris for Summer Celebration

Global sports company PUMA is thrilled to announce the grand opening of the PUMA House in Paris. On that day, PUMA Icons, such as Linford Christie, Tommie Smith, Robert Pires, and Colin Jackson, joined Arne Freundt, CEO, and Tiara Williams, host of the PUMA House and broadcaster.

For the next 17 days, PUMA House will serve as the epicenter for all things PUMA, offering a dedicated space for athletes, partners, and invited guests to come together to relax, celebrate, and immerse themselves in an electrifying atmosphere. 

PUMA House is strategically located at MOB House, just a stone’s throw away from the iconic Stade de France, providing easy access for athletes and guests. This prime location is equipped with all the facilities necessary to create a memorable experience, boasting a basketball court, football pitch and swimming pool for guests to enjoy and channel their competitive spirit. In addition, the outside area has been transformed into the ultimate viewing experience, with a huge screen available to ensure guests don’t miss a second of the action, as well as a giant stopwatch on standby for capturing any iconic performances.   

The standout feature, however, of PUMA House is the NITRO LAB, an interactive space where visitors can explore PUMA’s latest innovations and technological advancements. This cutting-edge exhibit demonstrates PUMA’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of sports performance and design. 

For a 17-day period, PUMA House will host a variety of events and activities, including press conferences, where media can engage with PUMA athletes. Of course, no celebration would be complete without medal celebration parties, where athletes and guests can revel in their successes and create lasting memories.

PUMA House Opens Paris

PUMA’s legacy is built on speed and innovation, qualities that empower athletes to break barriers, set records, and achieve their personal bests. The brand’s new motto, “FOREVER. FASTER. - See The Game Like We Do” resonates throughout PUMA House, inspiring everyone who walks through its doors. 

London, UK, June 01, 2012
THE JAMAICA OLYMPIC ASSOCIATION AND PUMA UNVEIL OLYMPIC APPAREL FOR LONDON 2012, DESIGNED BY CEDELLA MARLEY

USAIN BOLT AND CEDELLA MARLEY SHOWCASE THE JAMAICA TRACK & FIELD OLYMPIC WEAR

The Jamaica Olympic Association and PUMA today launched the Jamaican Team uniforms for the London 2012 Olympic Games™, including podium and ceremony wear with the help of Jamaican Track Athlete and World’s Fastest man Usain Bolt. Fashion designer Cedella Marley, daughter of Reggae icon the late Bob Marley, unveiled her designs alongside Usain Bolt at the launch in London today.

The designs will be worn by the entire team (men and women), including three-time Jamaican Olympic gold medallist, fastest man in the world and PUMA athlete Usain Bolt. PUMA’s partnership with Marley, the eldest daughter in the Jamaican family dynasty, underscores the brand’s long-time commitment to the Caribbean nation, with its rich cultural heritage, global music contributions and its unparalleled dedication to Athletics.

“It is truly an honor to design this collection for my home country and my home team,” said Cedella Marley. “It’s not even a dream come true because it’s something I never dreamed would be possible. I ran track in high school in Jamaica and I’m still a huge fan of Jamaican Athletics, so to have a role in creating the outfits for our Olympians is a thrill. I admire what PUMA has been doing in Jamaica over the years and the Marley family has the same type of give-back philosophy. I think this partnership is going to be legendary.”

Staying true to PUMA’s DNA of sportlifestyle, the collection incorporates high-tech fabrics and silhouettes engineered to enhance the performance of the athletes hailing from the fastest country in the world—Jamaica. Taking inspiration from the vibrant colors and patterns of the Caribbean nation as well as the African influences that have come to characterize that country, Cedella Marley’s unique designs are sure to make the world take notice in the summer of 2012.

“I can’t think of a better person to design our Olympic outfits than Cedella,” said Usain Bolt. “PUMA got that right…hooking up with a legendary Jamaican. She’s a great designer but also carries on the spirit of our nation through the legacy of the Marley family. It’s going to be inspirational to run in London with that energy surrounding me.”

PUMA’s Olympic wear will be accompanied by a lifestyle collection of apparel, footwear and accessories which will be available at PUMA retail stores globally in June 2012.

“We’ll go through a rigorous process of material selection and design to ensure the performance singlets, in particular, meet the needs of Jamaica’s world-class athletes,” continued Marley. They have to fit and feel like a second skin.”

“Cedella, the Marley family and their fun and laid back Jamaican nature are a perfect fit for the PUMA brand”, said Franz Koch, CEO of PUMA. “Cedella’s vibrant style and unique design will bring an authenticity to the Olympic PUMA collection for the entire world to see in London 2012, boosting the visibility of our brand significantly.”

Cedella Marley began designing clothes while she was on tour with Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, a band comprised of her brothers and sisters. Her fashion brand, Catch A Fire, named after her father’s first album, debuted in 2001 and encompasses a tailored bohemian style with vivid colors and prints. Her collections are available in upscale department stores throughout the United States. In addition to fashion design, Marley is a children’s book author and the CEO of Tuff Gong International—the record label founded by father Bob Marley in 1965. She is also the director of Marley and Company which manages Bob’s image and music rights and helms the merchandising conglomerate The House of Marley. A life-long philanthropist, Marley is currently overseeing operations for The Bob Marley Foundation and 1Love.org, which aligns well with PUMA’s own commitment to giving back.

PUMA’s investment in Track & Field in Jamaica is far and wide, with Usain Bolt being undeniably one of the brand’s greatest ambassadors. Since 2002, PUMA has sponsored the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), which is the governing body for Track and Field in Jamaica, and the Jamaica Olympic Association. In addition to this, PUMA helps to foster young talent through sponsorship of seven high school track and field programs. This partnership also drives the annual ISSA Boys & Girls Track and Field Championships, dubbed “The Champs” which is lauded as the most popular sporting event in Jamaica and the place where many of the world-renowned sprinters got their start. PUMA is a partner of pre-Champs meets including the Gibson Relays and various Invitationals. Outside of the high school sphere, PUMA is the main partner of the Reggae Marathon, which takes place each December in Jamaica and draws distance runners from all over the world.

The world will be watching Usain Bolt in London 2012 to see if he will break his own record in the 100m and 200m relays, clad in Cedella Marley’s unique designs. At 25, Bolt has emerged as one of the world’s most talented Track and Field athletes in the modern era, winning three gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and smashing two world records in the 100m (9:58) and 200m (19:19) at the World Championships in Berlin in 2009. PUMA, like many Bolt enthusiasts, believes the best is yet to come.

Photo Credits: Robert Ashcroft/ PUMA
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