‘Greatest ever’: World stunned by 'mind-boggling' feat at Olympics
Norway's Karsten Warholm has obliterated his own 400m hurdles record with a blistering run in one of the greatest ever races in Olympic history.
While the world record was predicted for Warholm, not many expected the 25-year-old to become the first man to run under the 46 second mark.
'INSANITY': Olympics cops backlash after athletics 'injustice'
'SHOCKING': Fans rage as 'farcical' moment leaves Matildas shattered
'WHAT A FREAK': Runner's 'mind-blowing' act after fall in 1500m
Last month, Warholm broke Kevin Young's 29-year world mark with a time of 46.70 seconds but this time he blew his own record away with an astonishing 45.94 run.
Warholm held off American Rai Benjamin, who pushed him all the way to take silver in 46.17, also half a second inside the old record.
Brazilian Alison dos Santos got in on the act as well as he took bronze in 46.72, also inside Young's previous best.
Warholm went wild after the record-breaking run and ripped his outfit in celebration.
400m hurdle final labelled an Olympic classic
Warholm's achievement needs to be put into perspective to be truly appreciated.
The Norwegian runner recorded a time faster than 23 Olympic sprinters in Tokyo over the same distance, despite the 25-year-old jumping hurdles.
Benjamin and dos Santos also achieved incredible feats.
The American ran the second fastest time in history - breaking Warholm's record he set last month - but it wasn't enough on the day.
Dos Santos also ran the fourth fastest time in history, but wasn't enough on a day with Warholm and Benjamin in front of him.
The thrilling final prompted many to declare the race as the 'greatest ever' at an Olympics.
Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow.
Norway's Karsten Warholm breaks 46 seconds and OBLITERATES his own world record to win gold in the 400m hurdles 🤯#Tokyo2020 | #7Olympics | #Athletics pic.twitter.com/zUoT9Jq3f2— 7Olympics (@7olympics) August 3, 2021
Karsten Warholm take a bow!
The #NOR athlete is Olympic champion after smashing his own World Record with a time of 45.94s in the men's 400m hurdles!@WorldAthletics #Athletics @idrett pic.twitter.com/3i2hhac7w5— Olympics (@Olympics) August 3, 2021
🇳🇴 WORLD RECORD 🇳🇴
4️⃣5️⃣.9️⃣4️⃣@kwarholm demolishes his own 400m hurdles world record by 0.76 seconds! 🤯
He is the #Olympics champion 🥇#athletics pic.twitter.com/wPthh276CG— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 3, 2021
Ppl, I don’t think you realize what you just watched. A man just ran Sub 46 in the 400M Hurdles. That’s Beamon’s jump in Mexico City, Bolt’s sub 9.6 in 100 meters. I saw Kevin Young run 46.78 in Barcelona, still can’t believe Warholm ran that fast. Geeeeezzz
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) August 3, 2021
48 people ran in the regular 400m prelims yesterday. The highest semifinal qualifying time was 45.64.
Karsten Warholm ran 400m in 45.94 — while jumping over hurdles — which was better than 23 Olympic sprinters did without the hurdles.— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) August 3, 2021
400 meters in 45.94 while jumping over hurdles‼️
Three guys in front of the Olympic record and two in front of the world record‼️
Seriously. The craziest 400m hurdles ever.pic.twitter.com/UrTvSkYPwM— Jay Tust (@KTVBSportsGuy) August 3, 2021
45.94 WR for Karsten Warholm
46.17 AR for Rai Benjamin
46.72 AR for Alison Dos Santos - a time that, up until a few weeks ago, would have been a WR— Jon Mulkeen (@Statman_Jon) August 3, 2021
Utter madness!
— Catelina Culé (@JamaicanSwiftie) August 3, 2021
WHAT DID WE JUST WATCH!!! Rao Benjamin OBLITERATES the world record but Karsten Warholm OBLITERATES IT MORE AND RUNS UNDER 46 SECONDS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY. Truly one of the all time great track races in history.
— CITIUS MAG (@CitiusMag) August 3, 2021
Both Karsten Warholm and Rai Benjamin ran quicker than Warholm's previous world record (46.70) in that final. So Benjamin also broke the previous world record and still finished 2nd. How about that? Bananas!!! #Tokyo2020
— Fentuo Tahiru Fentuo (@Fentuo_) August 3, 2021
The moment you realize Kevin Young’s 1992 OR and pre-July 1, 2021 WR time of 46.78 finishes FOURTH in this race!! MIND BOGGLING!!
🥇Karsten Warholm 45.94
🥈Rai Benjamin 46.17
🥉Dos Santos 46.72
Kevin Young 46.78#Tokyo2020 #Olympics #Athletics #400mHurdles #BestRaceEver 🔥 pic.twitter.com/C2TJLoScLC— Tim Dennis (@TDennisSportTog) August 3, 2021
the 400 meter hurdles was maybe the best race ever run pic.twitter.com/fd7YTjCLMY
— lifelong orlando magic fan ace (@AceAnbender) August 3, 2021
WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!
45.94 World Record for @kwarholm. Gold 🥇
46.17 American Record for @_Kingben_. Silver🥈
SIX athletes set a new national record.
That was the best 400m hurdles race ever. Period.#Tokyo2020 #Athletics pic.twitter.com/QZvSOtuT4k— TrackTown USA (@GoTrackTownUSA) August 3, 2021
with Reuters
Watch 'Mind Games', the new series from Yahoo Sport Australia exploring the often brutal mental toil elite athletes go through in pursuit of greatness:
Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.