Rai Benjamin pressed, and then he pressed some more, and then he broke Karsten Warholm when it mattered most. 

The American was all alone over the final barrier in the 400 meter hurdle final on Friday at the Paris Olympics, sealing his first global title in a winning time of 46.46 seconds, and he did it by breaking down the world record-holder over the ninth hurdle in front of 80,000 fans at Stade de France. 

"Three years has eluded me for so long, this color medal," Benjamin said later, "and to get it done here in this fashion at the Olympic Games, in front of my friends and family, in front of everyone just means so much to me." 

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Warholm, the World Champion in 2023 and the Olympic winner in 2021, was second in 47.06, while Alison dos Santos fell to third in 47.26 seconds. 

All Warholm could do afterward was sigh, as he pushed his hands behind his head in disbelief. 

A History-Making Moment

Benjamin had finally conquered the Norwegian in an Olympic final. The win marked the fifth straight Olympic cycle that a U.S. athlete medaled in the 400mH and the first win outright since 2016, matching Kerron Clement's victory in 2016 in Rio. 

Benjamin had taken silver in 2021.

"I don't think I ever doubted it," Benjamin said. "It was more, just stay patient and keep showing up every day and something has to shake. I think I told myself, 'This has got to go my way at some point and it went my way today. That's all I can ask for." 

It was also the 20th gold medal for an American athlete at the discipline since 1900, which is a track record of medaling in the 400mH in over 68-percent of the Olympic's history. 

I think I told myself, 'This has got to go my way at some point and it went my way today. That's all I can ask for."

Benjamin, 27, had beaten both men in Monaco just weeks earlier, claiming a star-studded Diamond League meeting that gave a preview for what was to come on Friday. 

He made sure to reaffirm that claim in the most important race of his year. 

Warholm had set the world record of 45.94 in 2021 and then followed with a World Championship in Budapest in 2023, clocking 46.89 for the distance. Benjamin fell behind in that race, settling for third in 47.56.

No one is more deserving than King Ben 👑

Rai Benjamin 🇺🇲 gets his 400mH Gold in Paris after another exhilarating duel with world record holder Karsten Warholm 🇳🇴#Paris2024 📸Getty pic.twitter.com/RH2vGKo9Au

— FloTrack (@FloTrack) August 9, 2024

Where It Happened

Friday's Olympic final was different. 

While the race found Benjamin and Warholm even through 200 meters, Benjamin began to raise the intensity as he surged on the Norwegian. But he also had to adjust his race pattern late.

"I just remember freaking landing awkwardly off at seven and then eight came up and I had to reach because I landed so awkward. I was like, 'Please don't fall,'" Benjamin said. "And then I had to reach for 10 and switch legs and then at that point I'm like, 'I'm going to get walked right now. Please don't get walked.'" 

He had a step on Warholm over the ninth barrier, while Warholm faltered, and then he was clear on the 10th. 

Benjamin said afterward this has been the most rewarding Olympic experience of his career thus far. 

"I feel like I'm the unspoken team captain of these Games, to be honest with you," Benjamin said. "Every day me Vernon, Shelby, Fred, we've been in the arc, which is our team lounge area, just hyping up every other sport, hyping ourselves up, hyping everyone up." 

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