Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang had dubbed it a “superduellen,” or super duel. Dagbladet, another tabloid in Oslo, went with “gullduel” – golden duel.
But years from now, when Norwegian newspapers recall the insanity and incredulity of the men’s 400-meter hurdles final at the Tokyo Olympics, the operative phrase may very well be “tidenes største løp” – the greatest race of all time.
In one of the most highly-anticipated matchups on the track in Tokyo, Norway’s Karsten Warholm narrowly edged American Rai Benjamin to win Olympic gold on Tuesday, a magnificent race in which both men smashed the previous world record by half a second – a staggering feat in an event where races are often won and lost by hundredths.
Warholm crossed the finish line in 45.94 seconds, lowering the world record he set a month ago by 0.76. Benjamin won silver in 46.17. And even Alison dos Santos of Brazil, who took bronze, flirted with Warholm’s previous world best of 46.70, coming up short by just two-hundredths of a second, in 46.72.
