Dos Santos Sets New 400m Hurdles World Record in Zurich
Brazilian hurdler Alison dos Santos ran 45.80 seconds at the Zurich Diamond League, breaking Karsten Warholm's 2021 world record by 0.14 seconds. Warholm finished second in 46.69, nearly a second behind. Dos Santos, the 2022 world champion, now holds the second sub-46-second time in history.
Dos Santos’s victory in Zurich extended his winning streak over Warholm to six consecutive meetings, a run that began after the Paris Olympics. The Brazilian’s time of 45.80 seconds places him alone atop the all-time list, with Warholm’s 45.94 and Rai Benjamin’s 46.17 now trailing. The race also showcased depth, as seven finishers dipped under 49 seconds, including a Slovenian national record for Matic Ian Gucek.
The performance came just four days after Dos Santos ran 46.43 in Silesia, the fourth-fastest time ever at that point. His tactical approach in Zurich involved using Warholm’s fast start from the adjacent lane to build an early lead, then closing harder than anyone else. The result sets up a marquee showdown at next month’s Ultimate Championships in Budapest, where the three fastest hurdlers in history are scheduled to compete.
This record could reshape expectations for the 400m hurdles, pushing Warholm and Benjamin to recalibrate their training and race strategies. For fans, it adds a new chapter to a rivalry that now clearly favors Dos Santos, potentially boosting interest in the upcoming Budapest meet. Younger athletes may see the sub-46 barrier as a realistic target, though such times remain extraordinary. The result also underscores how a single race can alter the sport’s narrative, shifting attention from past Olympic glory to current form.