ROME: One of the most iconic images of the Covid-delayed Tokyo Olympics was the sight of Karsten Warholm ripping open his running top after shattering the world record in winning the men’s 400m hurdles gold. The Norwegian recorded the mind-boggling time of 45.94 seconds, a time many 400m flat runners would struggle to make, let alone with 10 hurdles in the way. Warholm, a three-time world champion, wrapped up his third successive European title in Rome in June in totally dominant style in 46.98 seconds.

“I just used the zipper for now!” said Warholm after his victory in the Italian capital. The shirt ripping will have to wait until the Paris Olympics, he said. The 400m hurdles has taken on a life of its own after a surge of interest following a massive jump in rivalries and times recorded in what is widely regarded as one of the most testing disciplines in track and field.

Warholm told AFP that there had been a “revolution” in the event, and not just in the male category. The women’s hurdles has been lit up by the rivalry between American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Dutch star Femke Bol, now two of the most recognizable and sought-after faces on the circuit. The Norwegian himself faces stiff competition from Brazil’s world champion Alison Dos Santos and American Rai Benjamin, two proven competitors guaranteed to bring the best out of Warholm. Dos Santos scored a recent psychological blow by edging Warholm on his home track in Oslo during the Bislett Games earlier this month. Benjamin then won in Monaco earlier this month, Warholm and Dos Santos rounding out that podium in the trio’s first race together since they finished medallists at the Tokyo Olympics.

The 400m hurdles at the Paris Games, Warholm said, “should be one of the most exciting races. It’s building up to that. It will be exciting”. “It’s good to see the level is moving,” said Warholm, known for his extremely rapid starts, a tactic he argues is behind many racers’ improvement. 

“You can also see from a lot of the guys that they’re starting to do what we started to do with opening faster. Everybody’s pushing the race as a sprint, which I also think is one of the main reasons why the level is also moving.”

Warholm was left satisfied with his victory in Rome, but the two defeats have seen the pressure pile up. “Coming from the training I am feeling fast, but other guys run fast, too,” conceded Warholm in Monaco. “In the following weeks I will give my all to prepare as best as possible for the rest of the season. I will try to win in Paris.

“The European title is a good step on the road, but this is more to build confidence and of course to get the gold medal. This is to really see that your body is responding, to feel strong and these are the answers that I got and it’s amazing.

“But in Paris, everything will be about trying to be as sharp as possible.” Benjamin predicted that “Paris is going to be madness”. Having the fans back after a spectator-less Tokyo Games because of the Covid pandemic, Warholm said, “will be awesome. It’s about time”.

Seeing the sights in Paris, however, was not on his list of things to do. “I’m there to do one thing. For me, hopefully, if I don’t get a heart attack running 400 hurdles, I will have plenty of time to see stuff later in my life,” he said, describing his gold medal quest as a “journey”. “But for now it’s ‘I’m at work, I have one purpose’.” – AFP