Norway’s Karsten Warholm warmed up for the Tokyo Olympics in perfect fashion when he broke the 400 metres hurdles world record at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Oslo.
The 25-year-old two-time world champion beat American Kevin Young’s mark of 46.78 seconds, which had stood for 29 years, when he clocked 46.70secs at the Bislett Stadium on Thursday evening.
In a video interview posted on the Diamond League’s official Twitter account, Warholm said: “I knew that I had fast times in my body for a long time, but it’s one thing to know that you’re in good shape, it’s another thing to be able to go out and perform.
“This was just a perfect moment. Everybody is talking about this world record, it has been standing for many, many years – it’s older than me, actually. The first time, Bislett, back with an audience, family and friends in the stadium…
“I knew I had it in me, but of course it’s very special to be able to do it, and I’m just really happy and really proud. It’s an amazing moment.”
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Young set his world record, which had been the longest-standing men’s mark on the track, at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.
