Just five days after being pushed down a place on the world 400m hurdles all-time list, Norwegian star Karsten Warholm responded in sensational style to smash Kevin Youngâs long-standing world record, clocking 46.70* at the Oslo Bislett Games, this seasonâs fourth Wanda Diamond League meeting, on Thursday (1).
Speaking at the pre-event press conference, the two-time world champion had highlighted the impact of top-class rivalries. âYour competitors are what really push you towards bigger things,â he said. âIf it was only me running quick times, I wouldnât need to push it any further, but with people there running fast times, I need to take a step up as well.â
He certainly did that when racing in front of a home crowd of 5000 at the Bislett Stadion.
Although he didnât have huge pressure from the athletes alongside him on the track, the 46.83 run by Rai Benjamin at the US Olympic Trials just a few days before was fresh in the memory. That mark had replaced Warholmâs previous best of 46.87 set in Stockholm last August as No.2 all-time behind Youngâs 46.78 world record run at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. But in Oslo, Warholm shaved 0.08 off that mark.
On a warm and cloudy evening, which welcomed fans for the biggest gathering of people in Norway since the start of the pandemic, Warholm was greeted with a wall of cheers and chants of âKarsten, Karstenâ. Lining up in his lucky lane seven with Brazilâs Alison dos Santos to his left and Franceâs Ludvy Vaillant on his right, Warholm blasted from the blocks.
He had clearly closed the stagger by the first barrier and was well ahead going into the final bend. Clearing the final hurdle â the one which he so slightly clipped in the final stages of his 46.87 in Stockholm â there were no other barriers in his way as he roared over the finish line with his arms spread wide to a time of 46.70 on the clock.
Dos Santos was second, improving his South American record to 47.38, and Turkeyâs Yasmani Copello was third in 48.86.
With Sydney McLaughlin having clocked 51.90 at the US Olympic Trials on Sunday, it means both the women’s and men’s world records have been broken within the same week.
Fans will not have long to wait until the next instalment in what is proving to be a top rivalry, as Warholm and Benjamin will be going head-to-head at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Monaco on 9 July.
*Subject to the usual ratification procedure
WORLD RUGBY
