Norway’s superhero to try and reclaim the 400m h throne
Karsten Warholm, the fastest 400m h runner of all times suffered a defeat in Paris. Now, the Olympic silver medallist and “Thor of the hurdles” wants to reclaim his position in the athletics pantheon. To begin with, he challenges Mondo Duplantis in an extraordinary 100m duel on the eve of the Weltklasse Zürich meeting. And then, he will clash with former world champion and two-time Olympic bronze medallist Alison dos Santos in the 400m h. He may have been a runner-up in Paris, but Norway’s Karsten Warholm is still the only athlete to have covered one lap and ten hurdles in less than 46 seconds. The Omega timekeepers of Tokyo 2021 timed him at incredible 45.94 seconds.
The 400m hurdlers at number 1 and 3 ...
Even nearly mythological world record holders and Olympic champions have to accept defeat every once in a while. In 2017, 2018, and 2023, three-time world champion Warholm had to settle for second place. Now, he is determined to return to winning ways and dominate over the 400m h, just as he used to when he won the Wanda Diamond League in 2019 and 2021. However, Alison dos Santos, third at the Olympics in 2021 and 2024, and third on the all time top list with a personal best of 46.29, knows how to win a Weltklasse Zürich race as well. In 2022, the South American record holder had been invincible and thus taken the Diamond Trophy.
... and 4 and 5 in the all time top list at Weltklasse Zürich
The highly decorated duo will be joined by two further hurdling greats, one on, the other off the track. After two injury-plagued years, two-time Olympic finalist Abderrahman Samba (QAT) is on his way back to the form that placed him at number five on the all-time top list (46.98). And Olympic champion Kevin Young, who held the world record for 29 long years (46.78; between 1992 and 2021), becomes a prominent member of the Weltklasse Zürich media team.
Which stars will compete at Letzigrund Stadium on 5 September? All competitors confirmed for Weltklasse Zürich 2024 are listed here.
