Rai Benjamin wins the 400m hurdles title at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (© Dan Vernon)
Rai Benjamin is no stranger to a major championships podium; the US 400m hurdler has earned medals at the past four global championships. But on Friday (9) at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Benjamin finally landed a long-awaited gold by winning the men’s 400m hurdles.
The 27-year-old equalled his own world-leading mark of 46.46 to get the better of arch rival and defending champion Karsten Warholm, who was second in 47.06, reversing their positions from the Tokyo Olympics three years ago. Alison dos Santos, the 2022 world champion, took bronze for the second successive Games, clocking 47.26 in a race where the first six men finished inside 48 seconds.
Benjamin went into the race as the slight favourite, having won all of his races this year including a world-leading 46.46 win at the US Olympic Trials and a 46.67 win over Warholm and Dos Santos at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Monaco last month.
He had also looked remarkably easy through the rounds, winning his heat in 48.82 and his semifinal in 47.85. Warholm, meanwhile, had been pushed in both rounds by French breakthrough performer Clement Ducos, while Dos Santos only made it through to the final as a time qualifier.
But Benjamin knew better than to underestimate the two men who sit immediately above and below him on the world all-time list.
Benjamin, drawn in lane eight with Warholm one lane inside him, got off to a strong start as his Norwegian rival matched him barrier for barrier throughout the first half. On the top bend, Benjamin started to forge a lead. By the time they entered the home straight, Benjamin was noticeably ahead and continuing to pull away.
After successfully negotiating the final barrier, Benjamin charged through the line in 46.46. Warholm held on for silver, holding off a fast-finishing Dos Santos in lane three, who finished third in 47.26. Ducos was fourth in 47.76, just 0.03 ahead of Kyron McMaster of the British Virgin Islands.
“It feels great, to be honest,” said Benjamin after producing the tenth sub-47-second clocking of his career. “I got the s*** done, man. I finally got it done. This colour of the medal has eluded me for so long, and to get it done in this fashion, in front of my friends and family just means so much to me. In a way, the weight has been lifted.
"I don't think I ever doubted it, it was more about staying patient and keep showing up every day,” he added. “I told myself, ‘it has to go my way at some point’. It went my way today and that's all I can ask for.
“I know my last 200 is lethal and I know that I can outrun anyone at that point in the race. I just relied on that, trusted what I've done all season. That was the game changer for me today. He (Warholm) wanted to win, everyone in that field wanted to win. It wasn't going to be given to anyone, I had to come out and take it.”
Warholm was gracious in defeat. “Rai did a great job,” said the world champion. “Whoever takes it is the better man on the day. In my head, I deserved it as well, but this is not charity. Everybody is doing what they can to be a better man, and today it was him. I have to smile a little bit about the silver medal. The level is super high.”
Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics
| MEN'S 400m HURDLES MEDALLISTS | ||
| 🥇 | Rai Benjamin (USA) | 46.46 =WL |
| 🥈 | Karsten Warholm (NOR) | 47.06 |
| 🥉 | Alison dos Santos (BRA) | 47.26 |
| Full results | ||
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