Warholm destroys world record to win 400m hurdles gold

TOKYO: Norway's Karsten Warholm on Tuesday became the first man in the world to break the 46-second barrier in 400m hurdles, as he clocked 45.94 seconds in the final to win the gold medal in the Tokyo Olympic Games. Coming into the race as the favourite after breaking the 29-year-old world record of Kevin Young (46.78sec) a month ago, Warholm crossed the finish line first in 45.94 seconds, slicing off a sensational .76 seconds off his own world record. He had clocked 46.70 in the Diamond League meeting in Oslo, Norway on July 2.

Rai Benjamin of the United States won the silver in 46.17 and Alison dos Santos of Brazil took bronze in 46.72. Warholm started off very, very quickly and got into the lead early, blazing away and gliding over the hurdles effortlessly.

American rival Rai Benjamin came up strongly over the stretch and caught up with the Norwegian. But just when it looked like he will fade away, Warholm tapped into some hidden source of energy in his body and raced away to smash the world record.

Benjamin completed his run in 46.17 and would have taken half a second off the previous world record.

Warholm was understandably delighted with his gold medal, as well as breaking the 46-second barrier for the first time in history. IANS

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