Karsten Warholm looks forward to the 'big show' in Paris Olympics after losing top spot to Rai Benjamin at the Monaco Diamond League

Karsten Warholm recently narrowly lost to Rai Benjamin in the Monaco Diamond League. The Norwegian clocked 46.73 seconds while the American secured a timing of 46.67 seconds.

In 2024, the reigning 400m hurdles Olympic champion was defeated by the Belgian athlete, Alexander Doom, in the 400m at the 2024 World Indoor Championships. Following that, his 400m hurdles effort at the 2024 Bislett Games also ended in a loss against the Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist, Alison dos Santos.

Warholm then headlined the 2024 Monaco Diamond League to start over the 400m hurdles win streak. However, he finished six hundredths behind the gold finisher, Rai Benjamin, who stopped the clock in 46.67s.

Despite a silver finish, Karsten Warholm looked confident about his upcoming performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He shared a post on his Instagram handle to acknowledge the tough bout in Monaco while looking forward to the 'big show' in Paris in a few days.

"Good fight yesterday @diamondleaguemonaco. Lets get ready for the big show! See you in the Olympics in a few weeks," the caption read.

Karsten Warholm won the 400m hurdles title at the 2017, 2019 and 2023 World Championships. He rose to fame at the 2021 Bislett Games for his world-record-breaking 400m hurdles performance. His effort (46.70s) lowered the long-standing record of Kevin Young, who held it since 1992.

Soon after, he swept the Olympic title in the 400m hurdles at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In that event, he further lowered his world record time to 45.94s, a mark which stands untouched to this date. Warholm is also a two-time Diamond League and three-time European champion.

Karsten Warholm - "I still feel like I have something up my sleeve"

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Karsten Warholm and Rai Benjamin's thickening rivalry in the 400m hurdles came to the fore at the recently concluded Diamond League installment in Monaco. The Tokyo Olympic silver medalist, Rai Benjamin, picked up pace in the last hurdle, which earned him the coveted victory and left Warholm in silver.

Warholm shed light on the unpredictability of athletics and promised a tough battle at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

"Coming off hurdle ten, I still feel like I had something to respond with, but (Rai Benjamin) came off hurdle ten with a little more pace than me and that’s where I lost it today. That’s how it is. These are the things we’re going to fix when it comes to Paris. I still feel like I have something up my sleeve," he said. (via CITIUS Mag)

The bronze medalist of Tokyo, Alison dos Santos, finished third in 47.18s. The three Olympic medalists will battle it out again at the 2024 Summer Games, which will commence on July 26.