Once jaws had stopped plummeting after this 45.94sec symphony of destruction, the search for superlatives began. Michael Johnson, who knows a thing or two about destroying world records on the path to Olympic gold and glory, reckoned it was “one of the most impressive performances in the history of the sport”. Others hailed it as one of the greatest Olympic races of all time. Perhaps even the greatest of all time. If everyone sounded dizzy, that is because they were.
But those fortunate enough to see Karsten Warholm and Rai Benjamin duke it out, breaking the 400m hurdles world record by a street in the midday Tokyo heat, will remember it to their dying breath. There was barely a stride between them as they sprinted like cheetahs and jumped like stags over 10 hurdles. But, with the legs and lungs protesting, Warholm found just a little more.
As the Norwegian crossed the line, he looked at the clock and screamed. He had obliterated his own world record by a staggering 0.76sec. No wonder he tore his track vest open like Superman. “In the last 20 metres I couldn’t feel my legs,” he said. “I just ran for my life.”
What was the first thing you thought when you saw the results on the screen, he was asked. “I thought ‘this is sick’.”
Benjamin was second, in a time – 46.17 – that would have scarcely sounded believable a minute or two before. “There’s a lot to process,” he said. “I’m really happy to be part of history. It was probably the best race in Olympic history. I don’t even think Bolt’s 9.64 can beat that. I ran 46.1 and lost. That’s the nature of the beast.”
Some reckoned it ranked alongside Usain Bolt’s first 100m race in Beijing, when his victory in 9.69sec catapulted him to global superstardom. Others compared it to David Rudisha winning the 800m in 1min 40.91sec in London four years later. But those were beautiful processions. This was a proper slugfest, with the outcome in doubt even as the athletes cleared the final hurdle.
Benjamin thought a hurdle he clipped on the back straight had cost him. Warholm’s response? “Well, he shouldn’t have hit a hurdle in an Olympic final then,” he said, joking.
“I was coming, I just ran out of space,” said Benjamin. “It was a phenomenal race. We tore the old record to pieces. If you would have told me that I was going to run 46.1 and lose, I would probably beat you up and tell you to get out of my room. This is the greatest race in Olympic history. It’s undeniable.”
Brazil’s Alison dos Santos took bronze in 46.72 – a time that had it happened five weeks ago would have been the fastest in history. He finished a distant third.
Warholm and Benjamin talked eloquently and intelligently about the race and each other. The mutual respect was obvious.
“The kid’s amazing, you can’t be mad at that at all,” said Benjamin. “As a competitor it hurts. I couldn’t sleep last night, there were 10 million emotions in the call room. We’re cool with each other but we weren’t talking.”
The only moment of sharp disagreement came when Warholm suggested the springy Nike spikes used by Benjamin and hundreds of other athletes at these Games were unfair. “If you put a trampoline in there, I think it’s bullshit and takes credibility away from our sport,” was the Norwegian’s punchy assessment.
Not that Warholm was wearing plimsolls. His carbon-plated spikes were the result of a collaboration between Puma and the Mercedes Formula One team. Unlike Nike’s spikes, however, they do not contain air pods and a special slab of Pebax foam.
Clearly the track, which its makers Mundo claim is 1-2% quicker than any in history, was also a factor. Kyron McMaster, who was fourth in 47.08, described the experience as like “running on air”.
But as Benjamin said, this generation of hurdlers is special. “I don’t care who you are,” he said. “Could be Kevin Young, Edwin Moses, respect to those guys, but they cannot run what we just ran.”
The crazy thing is, they may not be finished.
“I can’t believe the time, it’s so fast,” said Warholm. “A lot of the time I am asked about the perfect race. I said it didn’t exist but this is the closest I’ve ever come.”
The greatest race in track and field history? “Your words not mine,” said Warholm, smiling. “But I think it’s up there.”
