Brazilian sprinter rewrites 400m hurdles history in Zurich
Alison dos Santos of Brazil ran 45.80 seconds to break the 400m hurdles world record at the Diamond League meeting in Zurich. He surpassed Karsten Warholm's previous mark of 45.94 from 2021. The 26-year-old finished well ahead of the field.
Dos Santos clocked 45.80 seconds at the Zurich Diamond League meet, shaving 0.14 seconds off the previous world standard. That mark had stood since 2021, set by Norway's Karsten Warholm. The Brazilian, 26, crossed the line far clear of his rivals, making the victory emphatic as well as record-breaking.
The performance arrives at a key moment in the athletics calendar, with the Diamond League circuit serving as a proving ground ahead of major championships. Dos Santos now holds the fastest time ever run in the event, placing him atop the discipline's all-time list and resetting expectations for future competition.
This record could shift the competitive landscape in the 400m hurdles, raising the bar for elite athletes worldwide and potentially drawing new audiences to a traditionally niche event. Younger runners may see Dos Santos as a model for what is achievable, while sponsors and broadcasters could show renewed interest in the discipline. The achievement may also inspire greater participation in Brazilian athletics, though its broader societal reach will depend on how the story is carried beyond the sport's core fanbase.