The rising star of Norwegian track and field, Karsten Warholm, has garnered attention for his season debut as he was extremely close to shattering his own world record. In the 300-meter hurdles at the Trond Mohn Games in Bergen, the 28-year-old set a fast time of 33.28 seconds, falling only 0.02 seconds short of his personal best at the non-Olympic event. As the Paris Olympics is just two months away, his fans are intrigued to know more about how he plans to better his game on the track.

Warholm shared the tenets of his training with Citius Mag during an interview. The world record holder in the 400m hurdles stands out for his commitment to taking risks. Warholm discussed his distinct approach to training, saying, “Running like an underdog even though you’re not that is my focus.” Despite all of his achievements, he is continuously pushing the limits of his discipline and never stops trying to get better.

Furthermore, Warholm highlighted the value of taking chances throughout practice and competition. “If you don’t take risks in sports, you will never have 45 seconds in the 400m hurdles in this life. You need to take risks in training. That’s the risk that people don’t see, and you need to take risks in the execution part of the race, which is the part people see,” he clarified. His training schedules and race tactics both reflect this risk-taking mentality.

Warholm’s performance has been greatly attributed to his drive to push boundaries and accept unknowns. His competitive viewpoint and combative style are key to who he is as an athlete. “Being aggressive to always fight, you know, being in a fighting position, running like an underdog, even though you’re not. That is my focus,” Warholm continued. This perspective motivates him to give it his all, regardless of prior successes or present positions. However, Warholm continuously pushes himself by going through training schedules.

Karsten Warholm’s performance and training at the Trond Mohn Games

At Tokyo in 2021, Warholm broke his previous record by nearly a second with his 45.94 win in the 400m hurdles. After wrapping up his indoor season with a silver medal in the 400m flat in March, the Trond Mohn Games officially kicked off his outdoor campaign. The Norwegian sprinter’s performance at the Trond Mohn Games reflects his outstanding form at 33.28 seconds. Warholm’s superiority was highlighted by his compatriot Andreas Haara Bakketun, who came in second place clocking at 35.43.

Moreover, Warholm’s fitness shows in his ability to nearly set a world record in his first outdoor race of the year. Previously, Karsten Warholm posted his training video on Instagram toward a mound of snow before landing on his back. He is spotted running in just his shorts and a winter cap in -21-degree weather.  The caption reads, “Putting the WIN in WINTER! -21 but no excuses”.

Thus, Karsten Warholm’s performance, which was almost a record, raises the bar for the next events. His fitness will be constantly monitored as he attempts to defend his championships and set new marks in the 400m hurdles, where he is currently ranked as the world and Olympic champion.