Rai Benjamin finally ascended to the top of the world stage in his specialty event, winning the men’s 400m hurdles at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Thursday. The Olympic champion produced a season’s best of 46.52 seconds, overcoming a late mistake to claim his long-awaited world title.
The American clipped the final barrier with his front foot, but his power and composure carried him across the line ahead of Brazil’s Alison dos Santos (46.84) and Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba (47.06), who completed the podium.
Full Results – Men’s 400m Hurdles Final
- Rai Benjamin (USA) – 46.52 SB – Reaction: 0.150
- Alison dos Santos (BRA) – 46.84 – Reaction: 0.159
- Abderrahman Samba (QAT) – 47.06 SB – Reaction: 0.182
- Ezekiel Nathaniel (NGR) – 47.11 NR – Reaction: 0.169
- Karsten Warholm (NOR) – 47.58 – Reaction: 0.150
- Emil Agyekum (GER) – 47.98 – Reaction: 0.186
- Caleb Dean (USA) – 48.20 – Reaction: 0.147
- Ismail Doudai Abakar (QAT) – 49.82 – Reaction: 0.167
Benjamin’s victory capped off a near-perfect season in the hurdles, where he already collected wins in Stockholm and Paris, alongside the U.S. Championships title. He had shown his intent early in Tokyo, cruising through the heats and semifinals to set up a final showdown with familiar rivals.
For Norwegian Karsten Warholm, the three-time world champion and world record holder, it was a disappointing outing as he faded to fifth in 47.58 despite a strong start. Once dominant in the event, Warholm was unable to maintain his momentum after the third barrier.
Benjamin’s triumph comes after years of near misses, he had to settle for silver or bronze behind Warholm or dos Santos at four consecutive global championships from 2019 to 2023. With this victory, he adds the long-elusive world title to his Olympic gold medal, further solidifying his status as one of the greatest 400m hurdlers of his generation.
Looking ahead, Benjamin could double his gold tally in Tokyo when he returns to anchor the U.S. men’s 4x400m relay on Sunday, a race that promises to be equally competitive.
Get real time update about this post category directly on your device, subscribe now.
