Norwegian Karsten Warholm made a case for being the most dominant track and field athlete in the current era when he regained the 400m hurdles world title he last won in Doha in 2019.
Warholm is now the World Record Holder, World Champion and Olympic champion on top of setting a Diamond League best this year and already there are comparisons between him and great American 400m hurdler Edwin Moses. Moses holds the remarkable record of winning 122 consecutive races over a period of 10 years – including 109 finals.
In Budapest, the 27-year-old returned to the top of the podium for the third time after finishing seventh in last year’s worlds in Eugene, Oregon after being hampered by a hamstring strain.
“I feel like the gold medal is back where it belongs. It’s an amazing feeling. It was the perfect run for me I was able to keep my form in the first 250m and I know that the guys were running their asses off and would be very tired,” Warholm beamed, his near-perfect hair style untroubled by the effort of the race. “It was just left for me to turn on the turbos over the last 100m and the race was mine.
“They went out super hard but I knew they were going to get it tough in the end. I knew I would have the most left on the home stretch. Every gold medal means a lot to me but this one is a bit extra special because I lost it last year. You have to fight and I have a fighting spirit in these moments. It gets the best out of me. I’m still hungry for more and more.”
You have to fight and I have a fighting spirit in these moments
Warholm was embroiled in a minor controversy during the semi-finals when a photograph of him suggested that his trailing leg had gone around the hurdle rather than over it.
“I have seen the picture, and I must say, the first time I saw it didn’t look good,” he said. “But it is just the camera angle and I am definitely not trying to cheat. In fact, my coach often tells me that I need to get closer to the hurdles.”
FAST FACTS
- Born in Ulsteinvik, Norway.
- In Tokyo, he became the Olympic champion with a world record.
- Former Norwegian Athlete of the Year
- Says he was a very shy kid so thinks that it is important to tell the children it is not always about winning but we can always become better
- Prefers lane seven
- He has built the Disney Castle and Old Trafford MU football stadium out of Lego