Dos Santos produces historic 400m hurdles run to break world record
Alison dos Santos of Brazil broke the 400m hurdles world record at the Zurich Diamond League, finishing in 45.80 seconds. The previous record of 45.94 was set by Karsten Warholm in 2021. Dos Santos, who had been unbeaten this season, improved his personal best from 46.29.
Dos Santos’s previous best of 46.29 had stood since 2021, and he entered Zurich unbeaten this season. Warholm, the former record holder, finished a distant second, while Dos Santos cleared the final hurdle smoothly and accelerated to shave 0.14 seconds off the mark. The race unfolded on the same evening as other record attempts, including in the 800m and pole vault, though those results are not detailed here. The Brazilian’s time also stands out against his own recent form, suggesting a peak late in the Diamond League season.
This record could reshape expectations in the 400m hurdles ahead of major championships, as Dos Santos now holds a psychological edge over rivals like Warholm. It may also boost the sport’s visibility in Brazil, inspiring younger athletes to pursue sprint hurdles. For fans, such a breakthrough adds drama to future head-to-heads, potentially increasing viewership and media coverage of Diamond League meetings. However, its broader societal impact remains limited to athletics enthusiasts, unless it sparks wider conversations about training methods or race pacing.