Karsten Warholm is set to light up the track once again at the Oslo Diamond League on Thursday (June 13), but the Norwegian superstar took a moment to reflect on one of the most cherished moments of his career, breaking the world record on home soil.
“To me, of course, it was an amazing feeling,” Warholm said during the pre-event press conference. “It was something we had chased for a very, very long time. So it was here at home soil that I was able to break the world record for the first time… It’s an amazing memory that I will cherish forever.”
That unforgettable night came in 2021. Warholm, cheered on by a passionate home crowd in the final event of the evening, stormed to a 45.94 in the 400m hurdles. He shattered Kevin Young’s long-standing world record of 46.78. That was set at the 1992 Olympics, four years before Karsten Warholm was born.
Now, as the Diamond League returns to Bislett Stadion, Warholm is at the center of another blockbuster showdown. He is in the men’s 300m hurdles, a new event officially introduced earlier this year.
Thrilling Competition
For the first time ever, the three fastest men in 400m hurdles history, Warholm, Rai Benjamin (USA), and Alison dos Santos (Brazil) will clash over 300m hurdles. This promises to be one of the highlights of the Diamond League season.
The race in Oslo kicks off a rare double-header for the trio, who will meet again just three days later at the Stockholm Diamond League. But all eyes will first be on Thursday’s unique battle for bragging rights in the shortened format.
Warholm heads into the meet as the world leader and world best holder in the 300m hurdles. He clocked 33.05 seconds at the Diamond League opener in Xiamen back in April.
“I believe the introduction of the 300m hurdles can help bring in new athletes now that the long hurdles expand from one to two events,” said Warholm.
The 300m hurdles layout includes 50 meters before the first of seven hurdles, compared to ten in the traditional 400m hurdles. This tweak makes for a faster, more explosive races
Between Warholm, Benjamin, and Dos Santos, the trio has claimed all the medals at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and they collectively own the 19 fastest performances in the history of the 400m hurdles.
Dos Santos, the 2022 world champion, will also be keen to assert himself in the new discipline. He adds more intensity to what is shaping up to be a classic three-way duel.
