– It was tough today, that’s what it was, Warholm tells NRK after third place.
Warholm is coming off an impressive feat at Bislett, where he beat rivals Rai Benjamin and Alison dos Santos in the 300-meter hurdles.
This time, the same trio would fight for victory in the 400-meter hurdles, where both Warholm and Benjamin each have Olympic gold medals.
There he was thoroughly beaten by both Benjamin and Dos Santos, who came in first and second respectively. Warholm had to settle for third place.
– He is beaten with a small ocean to him. It was a bit strange that the balance of power should turn so much from 300 meters at the Bislett Games, commented Vebjørn Rodal.
SHOCKING: Karsten Warholm failed to copy the feat from Bislett Games.
Impressed with the rival
Warholm’s time ended at 47.41.
– With 120 meters left, I felt that it wasn’t quite right. That’s how it is, there’s something to take with you. I have something to work on, says the Norwegian track and field star.
– Are you intimidated by Rai Benjamin’s time?
– Are you intimidated by Rai Benjamin’s time?
– It’s a wonderful time. Maybe not scared, because I’ve done it before. It’s just about getting it out, but I’m not doing that today.
DISAPPOINTED: Karsten Warholm had to fight in Stockholm.
Benjamin ran in a time of 46.54.
Warholm admits that he is disappointed with his own race.
– It’s not close to where I really am. You saw that on Thursday, he says and continues:
– I’m disappointed with the time, but it’s not hopeless.
Coach Leif Olav Alnes starts grinning when NRK asks about Warholm’s time. He admits that it came as a bit of a surprise.
– It wasn’t what we imagined. It’s like that after a violent discharge, says the successful trainer to NRK.
World Cup probably the next chance for revenge
Considering that Benjamin and Warholm meet quite rarely on the track and field, there is reason to believe that the World Championships in Tokyo will be the next time the two stars meet.
– It will be a fantastic build-up to that. Now there will be a period where we get to train a little where we run our own race. Now I think it’s good that we get to train a little and prepare for the second part of the season, says Warholm.
At Bislett he broke his own record in the 300-meter hurdles, running in 32.67. This is not yet an official world record with the International Association of Athletics Federations.
Earlier Sunday, training buddy Amalie Iuel had run the 400-meter hurdles on the women’s side. She was four hundredths off her season best.