– Good to be back. It was pretty good actually. It goes fast, then I mess up at the last hurdle when I have to relax a bit, but it’s going well, Warholm told news right after the final place was secured. The race was Warholm’s first after the WC slump in Eugene. He ran in a time of 48.38 and won his semi-final heat in the 400m hurdles. The 26-year-old opened cautiously and controlled his way into the final. Warholm has the annual best of 48.00. – I have faith, now I have gained confidence. I’m looking forward to the final tomorrow, the Norwegian continued. CHECKED: Warholm won easily ahead of Frenchman Ludvy Vaillant. Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB Coach did not see the race Warholm’s coach, Leif Olav Alnes, did not catch Warholm’s semi-final race. Reason? Among other things, he was supposed to help Amalie Iuel before her semi-final, which took place shortly after. – I didn’t actually watch the race, I was warming up the girls. But I assume you filmed it so I can watch it afterwards? I was quite sure that it would go well, says Alnes to news. One person who caught the race was news’s athletics expert Christina Vukicevic Demidov. – It was a beautiful run, he doesn’t do more than he has to. It’s a different Warholm than what we saw in Eugene. Warholm already has one European Championship gold in the distance from Berlin in 2018. PHOTOGRAPHER: Alnes was back in the stands during the women’s semi-finals in the 400 meter hurdles. Photo: Hanne Skjellum Strike back In the semi-final, Warholm ran with his new “super shoes”, which he has previously referred to as the “worst” on the market. – For fear of being a hypocrite, we may have built the worst shoes on the market, he said before the WC. CALM START: – It flows well and it looks rhythmic and good, said news’s athletics expert Vebjørn Rodal during the race. Photo: Javad Parsa / NTB With the new super shoes, the advancement was a small uplift after the disappointing world championship in the USA. Warholm ran to a disappointing 7th place during the WC in Eugene. The 26-year-old barely made it to the start of the WC after struggling with a thigh injury the month before. – I have used the time (after the WC) well. Added the training I have been missing. From the start of the season, I have had thoughts of being in another place, but I am happy where I am based on the conditions. Warholm dropped the Diamond League event in Poland before the EC, to bet everything on the championship. Contender through One of Warholm’s great gold contenders, Wilfried Happio, easily advanced from the first semi-final heat. – It went well. It is the first race in the EC. I have a good feeling, says Happio to news. – After what happened in the WC, you are one of the favorites here – are you aiming for gold? – Yes, I’m aiming for gold tomorrow, but I have to show my qualities and form (in the final), he replies. Warholm is aware that the Frenchman will be a tough man to beat in the final. – History has so far spoken in my favor, apart from the World Cup. He will be a tough competitor, and I will go out there knowing that he is very good, and run disrespectfully as usual, says the Norwegian.
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– Presuming you filmed it? – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule
