Shockwaves? More like an earthquake. April 26 in Xiamen wasn’t just a Diamond League opener — it was absolute chaos in the best way possible! The 2025 season didn’t just start with a bang — it blew the doors off. Karsten Warholm, Norway’s 29-year-old track hurricane, stormed in and shattered his own world record in the men’s 300-meter hurdles, clocking 33.05 seconds. That’s right — he smashed the 33.26 mark he set back in 2021 like it was child’s play.

The Tokyo Olympic champ and 400m hurdles world record holder left no doubt: he’s still the king. Brazil’s Matheus Lima tried to hang on and walked away with some serious bragging rights too, clocking a blazing 33.98 to set a brand-new South American record and claim second place. Japan’s Ken Toyoda wasn’t just making up the numbers either, grabbing third with a season-best 34.22.

But let’s be real: this night belonged to Karsten Warholm, and the fans couldn’t stop screaming about it. And the madness didn’t stop just here. Behind them, it was a flat-out dogfight. Turkey’s Berke Akcam dropped a personal best of 34.50 to snag fourth. Sweden’s Carl Bengtstrom clocked 34.75 for fifth, throwing down his season’s best.

Meanwhile, Kyron McMaster from the British Virgin Islands and China’s Zhiyu Xie both crossed the line at 34.95, neck and neck. CJ Allen from the U.S. had a personal best too, with 34.96, but this field was so loaded he still ended up eighth. Costa Rica’s Gerald Drummond brought it home in 35.61. But no matter where you looked on that track, it was season bests, personal bests, and history flying everywhere.

Karsten Warholm didn’t just win. He wiped the slate clean, setting a new world record, meeting record, Diamond League record, and world best performance all in one go. And honestly, after a night like that, the track and field world couldn’t help but lose its mind. Fans blew up social media with nonstop praise.

Karsten Warholm breaks records again, but is Benjamin Rai next?

Karsten Warholm is a track and field gem, and there’s no denying it. The Norwegian 400-meter hurdles superstar has been turning heads for years, but right now, he’s on a whole different level. After smashing his world record with a jaw-dropping time of 33.05 seconds, fans are in disbelief. One fan summed it up perfectly: “No, cuz Warholm is MOVING DIFFERENT this year. 33.05 and made it look EASY. Everybody else is just running for second place now, fr, 💀💀.“

Another chimed in with, “Bro broke the stopwatch 💥💥.” And the comments just kept coming: “Like, how do you even move like that 😭” and “33.05 is CRAZY. Warholm is moving like the track is on fire 🔥.” Oh, and just when you thought the night in Xiamen couldn’t get any crazier, Warholm grabbed the mic and dropped some serious heat. After setting the new world record, he casually said, “Actually, I thought it was a very good race and a little bit surprised over how easy my legs were feeling out the last bend.”

This wasn’t just a good race — this was a statement. He continued, “This shows that the speed is there and the speed over the hurdles is there. It is a very good first race for me.” And to make it even more terrifying for the competition, he teased, “If I race again at Bislett, we will push under the 33-second line. I am pretty sure.” This guy isn’t just hungry for gold; he’s starving for greatness, and trust us, the rest of the world should be watching closely.

But let’s not forget, Karsten Warholm’s track record speaks for itself. He’s a true legend in the making. He made history at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, setting a world record of 45.94 seconds and taking home the gold. But that was just the beginning. His career includes three World Championship titles (2017, 2019, 2023) and multiple European Championship golds.

Even in 2024, he earned a silver at the Paris Olympics, handling brutal weather conditions like it was nothing. However, one more fan added, “Karsten Warholm is coming for Benjamin Rai this year.” Well, Karsten Warholm and Rai Benjamin are two of the most electrifying talents in the 400-meter hurdles. Warholm stunned the world at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics by becoming the first man to break the 46-second barrier, setting a new world record of 45.94 seconds.

His dominance continued with a world-best 46.70 seconds in Oslo and a third World Championship title in 2023. In contrast, Benjamin, representing the USA, is known for his smooth and tactical precision. After several near misses, he clinched his first Olympic gold at the Paris 2024 Games with a time of 46.46 seconds, edging out Warholm, who finished second in 47.06 seconds.

The rivalry between Warholm and Benjamin has been one of the most compelling in recent athletic history.  For instance, at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Warholm’s world record run narrowly surpassed Benjamin’s personal best of 46.17 seconds. Looking ahead, Benjamin’s victory in Paris has added a new layer to this rivalry. With both athletes now having Olympic golds to their names, the stage is set for future matches.