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The backdrop and context
At the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, Kevin Young decimated fellow American Edwin Moses's 400m hurdles World Record of 47.02 and in the process, rewrote the history books with a new World Record of 46.78. Indeed, Moses was dominant for a decade, winning 122 consecutive races, including 107 finals. Kevin Young was the first athlete to run sub-47 seconds in the 400m hurdles, a World Record that would last for all of 29 years. Young’s decades-old record of 46.78 was never threatened until the arrival of the Norwegian Karsten Warholm, American Rai Benjamin, Brazilian Allison Dos Santos and Abderrahman Samba of Qatar.
Indeed, these are the four fastest men in history of the 400m hurdles. And these men have been showing great form since 2018. At the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Qatar, the intention of these men was made abundantly clear. In that final, Karsten Warholm won the gold medal in 47.42. Next was Rai Benjamin in 47.66 and Abderrahman Samba in 48.03.
Road to Tokyo
Because of the COVID-19 global pandemic, Tokyo 2020 Olympics was pushed back to 2021. However, these athletes made use of the additional time to fine-tune and perfect their craft. Therefore, on June 30, 2018, Abderrahman Samba recorded his first sub 47s (46.98) in the 400m hurdles. On August 29, 2019, Rai Benjamin also ran 46.98 to tie the time of Abderrahman Samba, while Karsten Warholm ran 46.92s to lead the chasing pack in pursuit of that elusive 46.78 World Record. These would become the three men to run sub 47 since Kevin Young exploits at the 1992 Barcelona Games.
KevinYoung’s world record is history
On August 23, 2020, Karsten Warholm lowered his lifetime best, running a spectacular time of 46.87. On June 21, 2021, at the USA National Trial, Rai Benjamin lowered his personal best, to 46.83, and in the process, became the second fastest man in history in this event. However, less than two weeks later, on July 1, 2021, Karsten Warholm produced a phenomenal time of 46.70, to erase the Kevin Young 29-year-old world record of 46.78. Indeed, this created the backdrop for the duel between Warholm, Benjamin, Samba and Dos Santos, going into the Tokyo2020 Olympic Games. Predictably, the expectations were very high. The rivalry between Warhom and Benjamin had become intense and reached fever pitch levels.
Warholm goes sub-46 in Tokyo
In the 400m hurdles final, Karsten Warholm lined up against his arch-rival, Rai Benjamin, Allison Dos Santos, and Abderrahman Samba. All the "stars" were aligned! From start to finish, it was an explosive and enthralling race. No energy was spared to get to the finish line. Warhom went out very hard but was constantly tacked by Benjamin and the chasing company. From mid race it was clear that the race was on World Record pace. In the homestretch, Benjamin caught Warholm, with Dos Santos and Samba finishing fast but a bit adrift. However, the strength, tenacity and sheer determination of Warholm prevailed, shattering his own World Record of 46.70 while posting an amazing time of 45.94.
Warholm was the first to breach the 46 second barrier. Benjamin was second in 46.17, a time which also decimated the previous World Record that was held by Warholm. Dos Santos grabbed the third place to finish in a phenomenal time of 46.72, just two one hundredth of a second outside the previous World Record. On this occasion, the 2021 Doha Bronze medalist, Abderrahman Samba of Qatar, was fourth in 47.02.
What’s Next?
The final was epic; it lived up to expectations and was arguably the greatest 400m hurdle race ever in Olympic history. The question is how much further can the World Record be lowered? Is it possible to see a low or mid 45 clocking in the men's 400m hurdles? With "beasts" like Warholm, Benjamin, Dos Santos and Samba around, I would not rule out that possibility. After all, they are all young men between the ages of twenty-one years and twenty-five years, standing over six feet, strong, fast and fearless.
Henley Taylor, Freelance Sports Writer
Edited by Raymond Byfield
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