Tokyo (AFP)

The world record holder against the 3rd performer of all time: the duel between the supercharged Norwegian Karsten Warholm and the placid American Rai Benjamin in the final of the 400m hurdles is salivating in advance and promises to be one of the highlights of the Tokyo Olympics, Tuesday.

It is not only the two most talented runners of their generation who will battle it out for gold at the Olympic Games, but also two characters at odds with each other.

Between the two hurdlers, who have restored their letters of nobility to a discipline that has been dormant for many years, it is day and night, ice and fire, but the most volcanic is not necessarily the one that the we believe.

With his very particular way of motivating himself before a departure, based on violent slaps on the face and thighs, and his jokes on social networks with his long-time trainer, Leif Olav Alnes, Warholm is one of the strongest personalities. from the small world of athletics.

But beyond his exuberant temperament, there is this strength that emerges with each of his outings, when he emerges from his hallway 7 fetish to swallow his opponents one after the other at a rate of hell.

On July 1 in Oslo, after four seasons of absolute control over the 400m hurdles and two world titles (2017, 2019), the Norwegian finally broke the world record of 29-year-old American Kevin Young. years, around which he revolved so much (46 sec 70 now), establishing himself more than ever as the man to beat the Games.

# photo1

After such a feat, expectations are increased tenfold before the grand final of the Olympics, but Warholm no longer thinks too much about the clock.

He has only one idea in mind: to bring back his first Olympic gold medal from Japan.

He has also limited his appearances this year (2) in order to arrive "hungry" in Tokyo.

“Winning is the most important thing,” assures the 25-year-old. “You have to be at the level of the world record to win, but it's hard to say how much time will win.”

- Reduced contacts -

On Benjamin's side, it's the same old story.

The athlete from Mount Vernon (State of New York), born to parents originally from Antigua and who only obtained the right to represent the United States in 2018, is a little fed up with being spoken to without ceases the world record.

“I'm trying to avoid the question but the Norwegian media is killing me with it,” he said after his playoff success on Friday. “I'm just here to win gold for the USA and myself. am focused on winning, that's all. "

The American (25) has no chances.

In an ideal world, he would be untouchable with his fabulous time of 46 sec 83, achieved on June 26 during the Olympic "Trials" in Eugene.

But the former political science student at the University of Southern California (USC) fell into Warholm's paws.

# photo2

The two men have only faced each other three times but the fiery Norwegian has dominated the debates each time, especially in the final of the Doha Worlds in 2019, Benjamin contenting himself with 2nd place.

Their contacts off the slopes are therefore very limited and when the meeting occurs, they prefer not to share their professional secrets.

"We can have a good time but we never discuss the race. We don't want to share too much with each other how we win of course," said Warholm.

The great explanation between the two men will rather be on the track, Tuesday at the Olympic stadium in Tokyo.

© 2021 AFP