Image: REUTERS
The Norwegian Karsten Warholm stormed the 400 meter hurdles in a fabulous world record time at the Olympic Games. The two-time world champion ran in Tokyo on Tuesday in an incredible 45.94 seconds to triumph over the American Rai Benjamin (46.17). Bronze went to Alison dos Santos (46.72) from Brazil. The exciting women's long jump was ultimately the prey of the German world champion Malaika Mihambo.
“This is crazy,” said the 25-year-old Norwegian beaming. “I've trained like a madman and I've devoted all my time to it. Now I have to set new goals because I'm not done yet.” This triumph is simply “very special” for him. Behind Warholm, the American Rai Benjamin ran the second fastest time ever over this route in a fabulous 46.17 seconds, and the third-placed Brazilian Alison dos Santos (46.72) also scratched the previous world record.
Warholm had only broken the ancient world record on July 1st at the Diamond League meeting in Oslo. In his home game at Bislett Stadium, he won in 46.70 seconds. The world and European champion remained eight hundredths of a second under the almost 29-year-old dream time of the American Kevin Young at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.
In the women's long jump, World Champion Mihambo managed a gold spot landing on exactly 7.00 meters with her last jump, until then she was on the bronze course. “The competition only ends after the sixth attempt. I would have liked to have fought my way in the fifth or fourth attempt so that I don't get into this unsightly position in the sixth attempt of having to wait and see what the others do with it,” said Mihambo after the competition.
Silver won the four-time world champion and London Olympic champion Brittney Reese from the USA with 6.97 meters ahead of the world’s best of the year Ese Brume from Nigeria (also 6.97 / worse second attempt).
