Warholm on rival: 'Easy to see through'

Norwegian hurdler Karsten Warholm suspects that his rival Rai Benjamin's recent victory in the 400-meter hurdles at the Lausanne Diamond League was a strategic move. Benjamin clocked a swift 46.67 seconds, the fourth-fastest time this season, in his first hurdles race since the 2024 Olympics.

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I thought from the start that the Lausanne race was a way to test if he is going to run 400 meters hurdles in Budapest. So if he is playing a bit cautiously, there is often a little strategy behind it. But for us other athletes, it is quite easy to see through.

Warholm, who dominated the event from 2017 to 2023, losing only one championship title to Benjamin in 2024, believes Benjamin's performance was a test run for the upcoming Ultimate Championship in Budapest in September. "I thought from the start that the Lausanne race was a way to test if he is going to run 400 meters hurdles in Budapest," Warholm told VG. "So if he is playing a bit cautiously, there is often a little strategy behind it. But for us other athletes, it is quite easy to see through."

Benjamin has primarily focused on the flat 400 meters this season, achieving a personal best of 44.05 seconds. Warholm, however, feels Benjamin has a better chance in the hurdles. "He has better chances in the 400 meters hurdles than the flat 400," Warholm stated.

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He has better chances in the 400 meters hurdles than the flat 400.

Meanwhile, Warholm is preparing for his own challenge against Brazil's Alison dos Santos in Silesia on Sunday. Warholm's personal best of 46.28 seconds, set in Silesia last year, might be necessary again to secure a win. "I will not be surprised if we have to go down towards the 46.30 range to win," he said. Warholm has been healthy since his European Championships win, though he admitted to feeling tired a few days after the event.

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I will not be surprised if we have to go down towards the 46.30 range to win.