Duel of the Hurdle Giants enters the next chapter

Few disciplines combine speed, rhythm, precision and drama as impressively as the 400m hurdles. Over recent years, Warholm and dos Santos have repeatedly delivered unforgettable and closely contested races on this distance.

Norwegian Warholm has held the world record since his historic performance at the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games, when he clocked 45.94 seconds. He has also won three world titles and Olympic gold. Brazilian dos Santos was crowned world champion in 2022 and, with a personal best of 46.29 seconds, ranks among the fastest athletes in history.

For Karsten Warholm, competing in Zurich also means returning to a venue of numerous sporting highlights. For years, the fan favorite has thrilled the Letzigrund crowd with spectacular performances. Last summer, he produced one of the evening’s standout moments with his victory and a new meeting record in the 400m hurdles. His showdown with pole vault world record holder Mondo Duplantis in the “Karsten vs. Mondo” 100m race ahead of Weltklasse Zürich 2024 has also achieved cult status.

«Weltklasse Zürich is one of the most special meetings on the calendar. The atmosphere is incredible every time, and I have experienced many unforgettable races in Zurich. My victory and the meeting record last year rank among the highlights of my career. But what I remember most are the close and emotional battles in front of the passionate Swiss fans. I am very excited to return to Zurich and create more special moments this year,» says Karsten Warholm, whose anticipation for Weltklasse Zürich is clearly evident.

Alison dos Santos is enjoying arguably the strongest season of his career. The 2022 world champion and 2025 world silver medalist from Tokyo has repeatedly challenged Warholm successfully and has already beaten the Norwegian three times this season (Shanghai, Xiamen and Oslo). As a result, the balance of power has shifted noticeably within just a few months.

Before the start of the season, Warholm led their head-to-head record clearly with 13 wins to 4. The gap has since narrowed, with the score now standing at 13–7. Dos Santos also won in Stockholm, while Warholm responded with a victory and a world-leading time in London, with each result coming in the absence of the other. After Warholm’s strong performance in London, dos Santos delivered an immediate response: With 46.48 seconds at the Brazilian Championships, he reclaimed the world-leading time. 

The stage is therefore set for an epic race: Two athletes in outstanding form will go head-to-head in one of the most electrifying athletics atmospheres in the world. Racing over ten hurdles and the full lap of the stadium, Warholm and dos Santos will be accompanied from curve to curve by the 25,000 spectators in Letzigrund. As they enter the home straight, not only will the race reach its climax, but the atmosphere inside the stadium is likely to rise to another level as well.

With today’s announcement of the top athletes, the biggest names in the field are confirmed. Further athletes will be announced in the coming weeks.