Warholm has won two EC gold medals indoors in the 400 meters in the past, but this year’s WC is the first time he has participated in the indoor WC.
The 28-year-old has made it safely through both trials and semi-finals. In the final he was the favourite, where Belgian Alexander Doom was supposedly the toughest competitor.
Warholm quickly got on the back of Doom and then led after the first lap. On the run, however, Doom came quickly and won with a time of 45.25.
Warholm was second with a time of 45.34, 29 hundredths behind his own personal (and European) record for the distance.
The American sprint legend Michael Johnson writes on X that he thinks Warholm could have won if he had backed Doom, instead of leading all the way to the race himself.
– I die a bit quickly. That’s the only thing that was a bit silly. It is possible that I could have had a slightly better balance at the opening, but all in all, it feels like I did most things (correctly) until my legs stopped responding a little too quickly, says Warholm himself to NRK, and adds:
– But it is also difficult to be in a position where I am only satisfied with gold.
DOUBLE EUROPEAN: Karsten Warholm with the Belgian gold winner after the race.
Photo: NTB
Decided shortly before the WC
For a long time, it was uncertain whether Warholm would participate in the indoor WC. The fact that he sat on the fence for so long may have influenced Saturday’s result.
– The only thing that makes it difficult is that I decided a week ago and started to rest a bit from then. I could have done a little better preparation in that sense, but that’s how I knew it would be.
– How did you experience the last 50 metres?
– That’s shit. It’s not the first time I’ve had that feeling that you get that acid. This is how it is in a way. It’s my running style to run so hard and sometimes you get the bill. It is difficult to always strike the balance perfectly, says Warholm.
Warholm has three World Cup golds and one Olympic gold from his favorite event, the 400 meter hurdles.
– He is fearless who competes here, at a slightly unfamiliar distance, says NRK’s athletics expert Vebjørn Rodal after the race.
– I think Warholm did a lot of right when he got the lead. It probably cost a bit, the first round. On the far side on the second lap, I think he tried to calm down a bit and through the last corner it looked like he tried to save some energy. It didn’t look like he went absolutely to the max there to save a bit for the race, but Doom is good, says Rodal.
JUST ALMOST: Warholm couldn’t match Doom on the run.
Photo: NTB
Chasing first Norwegian gold since 1995
Norway has only won one gold in the indoor World Championships in athletics before, back in 1995.
Then Geir Moen won the 200 metres, a distance that was removed from the WC program after 2004 because of the great advantage the runners in the outer lanes have.
Apart from that, there hasn’t been a big Norwegian medal haul either. Jakob Ingebrigtsen took silver in the 1,500 meters in 2022, and tested positive for the coronavirus the following day, while Hanne Haugland and Georg Andersen took bronze in the high jump in 1997 and the shot put in 1989, respectively.
This year’s championship goes without any of the Ingebrigtsen brothers at the start, partly due to an injury that has troubled Jakob Ingebrigtsen for a long period after last year’s season.
A new chance for Norwegian gold comes in Sunday’s 1500 metres, where Narve Gilje Nordås is among the favourites, in addition to Markus Rooth and Sander Skotheim also taking part in the medal match in the heptathlon.
Norwegian medals in the indoor WC
Expand/minimize fact box
Gull:
- Geir Moen – 200 meters – 1995
Silver:
- Jakob Ingebrigtsen – 1500 meters – 2022
- Karsten Warholm – 400 meters – 2024
Bronze:
- Georg Andersen – shot put – 1989
- Hanne Haugland – height – 1997
Bol with a world record: – Absolutely crazy
Just before Warholm was in action, it was the women who ran 400 metres. There, another breeding star in Femke Bol delivered. The Dutchman took a superior WC gold ahead of teammate Lieke Klaver.
With a time of 49.17, it was also a world record for Bol, who won 99 hundredths ahead of Klaver.
It is an improvement on her own world record by seven hundredths.
– It’s absolutely crazy. She is truly unique and one-of-a-kind, Femke Bol. I really feel honored to be able to sit and comment on and watch such a race, said NRK’s athletics commentator Christina Vukicevic-Demidov.
Skotheim and Rooth in the medal match
In the heptathlon, Sander Skotheim and Markus Rooth are fourth and fifth after four out of seven exercises. Skotheim stands with 3547 points and has only eleven points up Simon Ehammer in second place, while Rooth stands with 3441 points.
– I am quite satisfied. Those are pretty solid results, so I’ll take it, says Skotheim, and continues:
– I am very much in an attacking position now, so I feel that there is an opportunity, he says.
The heptathlon ends with the 60 meter hurdles, pole vault and 1000 meters on Sunday.
Scandalous scenes in the World Cup: – Oi! It is extremely dangerous! 00:47
Klæbo – he hugged me tightly 00:51 Mowinckel paid tribute to Kvitfjell 00:48 Tøyser with comfort from mum 00:59
show more