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As the Diamond League rolls into Stockholm for the prestigious BAUHAUS Galan meeting, the spotlight narrows on two of the sport’s record-breaking 400m hurdlers —Karsten Warholm and Femke Bol as the season starts to ignite.
Fresh off a stunning world-best 32.67 seconds in the rarely-run 300m hurdles in front of a raucous home crowd in Oslo, Warholm arrives in Stockholm with momentum and mischief. The Norwegian superstar, Olympic champion and world record holder over 400m hurdles, admitted the thrill of Thursday night’s race lingered long into the night.
“I think, especially given that it happened in Oslo, it was extra special,” Warholm said. “It was very important for me to have a win that night. I was struggling a bit to go to sleep — a lot of adrenaline. But I’ve landed now.”
While many would take time to bask in such a performance, Warholm’s gaze is firmly ahead.
“I want to do a good 400 metres also,” he said of his race in Stockholm. “We all raced on Thursday, so we’re on equal terms tomorrow. I think it can be a fun one. For me now, it’s about getting in good races, and then fast times will come.”
On the women’s side, Dutch sensation and European record holder Femke Bol returns to a track that holds a special place in her memory. It was here, back in 2020, she claimed her maiden Diamond League win during a pandemic-afflicted season.
“That’s long ago,” Bol reflected. “It brings back that there was no audience because it was COVID. But it was my first big hurdle race. I was really excited. I remember being so happy to win it.”
Now world and European champion and Olympic bronze medallist, Bol continues to evolve — with her focus locked on rhythm, execution, and incremental gains.
“For me, I think it’s confidence in my stride, better knowing how it will feel,” she said. “The more races you get, the better you feel the hurdles… I’m not in my peak shape at all, but of course I want to do well.”
With the Tokyo World Athletics Championships looming ever closer, Stockholm represents an important checkpoint in Bol’s journey.
“It’s only my third race of the season. Especially for me, the second bend is important tomorrow — to really work on this. If I think about times, I run slow. So, I’ll just think about executing my plan.”
As Bol and Warholm continue to build toward their season’s crescendo, the men’s 400m hurdles rivalry remains one of the sport’s most intriguing — not just for its world-class performances but for its camaraderie.
American Rai Benjamin, who edged Warholm for Olympic gold in Paris and has consistently been part of the elite trio with Warholm and Brazil’s Alison dos Santos, offered a refreshingly grounded perspective.
“I would say this isn’t the UFC — we’re not fighting each other,” Benjamin said. “We leave that to the 100 metre sprinters they got right now. We’ve always given each other a little, ‘Alright, good luck guys.’ And when we cross the line, it’s always still love.”
With mutual respect underpinning fierce competition, Stockholm promises another key chapter in this season’s unfolding drama. Warholm is sharpening his edge, Bol is perfecting her stride, and the world is watching — one hurdle at a time.
