Athletics-Brazil's dos Santos wins 400m hurdles world final, Warholm denied

By Amy Tennery

EUGENE, Ore. (Reuters) -Brazilian Alison dos Santos denied record-holder Karsten Warholm a third successive World Championship title on Tuesday, winning the 400-metre hurdles in a blazing-fast 46.29 seconds.

While the hype heading into the final had largely focused on a showdown between Norwegian Olympic champion Warholm and his American rival Rai Benjamin, the Tokyo bronze medallist had the victory locked up down the final straight in a championship record.

Dos Santos exploded off the blocks and stretched his arms out wide as he glided through the finish with ease and held his hand to his ear, urging on cheers from the crowd after the remarkable upset.

"The energy of the crowd was amazing. I felt their love, people hugging me," he said. "When you win, you start being everyone's favourite. That's pretty awesome to win the world title on this track."

Benjamin had a fighting chance until the ninth hurdle, when he slowed dramatically before finishing more than half a second slower for his second consecutive world silver.

Warholm had twice broken the world record in 2021 but walked into Eugene, Oregon, with a question mark over his head after suffering a hamstring tear in June, having not completed a race in 10 months.

He hyped himself before stepping into the blocks, deploying his trademark smack to the face, and appeared to be still in contention for the podium until after the final turn, but he struggled down the final metres of the race to finish seventh.

"It was a very tough race. I had an injury but to me it's always your fight and giving your all and leaving it all on the track," he told reporters, adding that he had "huge respect" for the rest of the field.

"I hope looking back I'll feel proud of that