‘It’s Tough’: Karsten Warholm Details Raw Emotions After Shattering His 300m Hurdles World’s Best Performance

“What a crowd pleaser! The world record has been obliterated!” That was all Katharine Merry, former 400m star and veteran of countless summers on the track, could muster after witnessing the thunderclap that was Karsten Warholm’s performance at Oslo’s Bislett Stadium on June 12. And really, what more was there to say?

In front of an electric home crowd, Warholm didn’t just show up—he delivered a moment of pure athletic theatre. In a rarely contested event, the 300m hurdles, the Norwegian superstar wrote history in bold letters, clocking an astonishing 32.67 seconds to become the first man ever to dip under 33. It was vintage Warholm—explosive, dramatic, and deeply emotional. However, the drama began the moment the gun fired. Warholm launched out of the blocks like a cannonball, seizing early control. But just as the race hit the 200m mark, American rival Rai Benjamin surged ahead, threatening to spoil the hometown hero’s party.

For a brief moment, it looked like the tide had turned. But then came the response only Warholm can summon. Digging into his reserves, feeding off the roar of the crowd, he charged back, eyes blazing, and stormed down the homestretch with fury and finesse. As he crossed the finish line, the clock stopped at the impossible: 32.67 seconds. He ripped his vest apart in sheer ecstasy, a visceral celebration of a run for the ages.

In the aftermath, speaking to Athletics Weekly, Warholm opened up about the emotional weight of the moment. “It’s actually, it’s tough as well. You know, it’s a lot of emotions to deal with. To me. It’s like a make-it-or-break-it moment.” He acknowledged the massive expectations that come with being a homegrown hero—and how they almost became a burden. “You know, I’m coming out there. Everybody’s expecting a win from me, and it’s not going to be a walkover, obviously, because the level is insane.” He further noted, “So, coming out here, I know that I have to win, but I know that it’s not going to be easy.” But perhaps the most telling line came when he spoke of his inner drive: “Dealing with all those emotions and finding not the maximum, not the minimum, but the optimum way of performing is an experience that saves me today, and of course, also the little dog in me that still has a lot of fight.”

“To break the world record at home means more than anything. The time I’m showing today is maybe the best Karsten Warholm ever.” @kwarholm talks through obliterating his own world 300m hurdles record on home turf in Oslo

*Warning – viewer discretion is advised with language… pic.twitter.com/hVxVz4onvW

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) June 12, 2025

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