Karsten Warholm Believes He Will Soon Face Rai Benjamin for the First Time Since the Lowest Point of His Career in Norway

Warholm dominated the 400-meter hurdles from 2017 to 2023, winning four of five championship golds. Since then, Rai Benjamin took Olympic gold ahead of the Norwegian in 2024 and won at the Tokyo World Championships last year, when Warholm was injured from the start and finished fifth. Warholm has not yet had the chance to avenge those losses, as Benjamin has focused on the flat 400 meters this year.

On Friday, Benjamin ran his first hurdles race of the season in Lausanne, Switzerland, winning in 46.67 – the fourth-best time of 2026. "It was very good, and he has run 44 flat this year on the flat 400, so it's as expected. But still very impressive. 46.67 is a fantastic time, Warholm told VG.

After a strong 46.63 and European Championship gold in the wind in Birmingham, Warholm is in Silesia to take on Alison dos Santos in the 400-meter hurdles on Sunday at 4 p.m. on NRK. Benjamin is also in Poland but runs the flat 400. The big question is whether Benjamin will run the 400-meter hurdles at the new Ultimate Championship in Budapest on September 11–13, possibly in addition to the flat 400. In an interview Friday, the American said "we'll see. "I thought from the start that the Lausanne race was a way to test whether he should run the 400 hurdles in Budapest.

I really felt that. So if he's playing a bit cautious, there's often a little strategy behind it. But for the rest of us athletes, it's quite easy to see through, Warholm said, concluding: "I think it was a little test for Budapest.

Benjamin's season best and personal record on the flat 400 is 44.05 – making him the eighth-fastest in the world in the event this year. "He has better chances in the 400 hurdles than the flat 400, Warholm said. Last year, Warholm ran his second-best race ever in Silesia with a time of 46.28. He estimates he may need to get down there again this year to beat Dos Santos – for the first time this season.

"I wouldn't be surprised if we have to get down to the 46.30 range to win. I'd be surprised if the winning time is over 46.50, unless conditions ruin it. But it's hard to say, Warholm said.

He has stayed healthy after the European Championships, where he also won gold in the mixed 4x400-meter relay with Henriette Jæger, Amalie Iuel, and Andreas Kulseng, but admits he was a bit tired a couple of days afterward. There aren't as high peaks and valleys, it's a bit flatter. You know how it is, Warholm said.

Dos Santos has not raced since taking gold at the Brazilian Championships with the strongest time of 2026 – 46.48 – in late July. Warholm believes the rival may have a slight advantage from a longer break without competition.