– In all humility, it’s actually very good, said a smiling Warholm of his own winning streak.

He crossed the finish line in a time of 46.52 – his second best running, beaten only by his own world record.

– I didn’t see it coming, and it shows that I’m at least where I should be, he emphasizes.

Full control

As usual, Warholm attacked by beating himself in the chest, and when the initial shot went off, he shot out of the starting blocks in lane seven.

He shot away from his rivals, leaving ten hurdles behind in a controlled manner and raced his way to victory to thunderous cheers from the Bislett crowd. His time was 46.52 and an improvement over Bislett’s previous race, in which he set a world record.

– He’s back in full swing! He is the king of training at its best, exclaimed a delighted Jann Post in the commentary box at Bislett Stadium.

Neither Warholm himself nor trainer Leif Olav Alnes had hinted that the world record holder was in great shape, and he certainly showed it in the late afternoon sun in the capital.

– That’s very good. It’s always fun like that, trainer Alnes told NRK right after the finish line.

– It’s a fantastic race, he added.

Watch the race here:

First in two years

Thursday’s race was Warholm’s first at Bislett in two years, and it is one he has many fond memories of. Previously Bislett’s race ended with a world record for Sunnmøringen, which then clocked 46.70.

During the Olympic Games in Tokyo the same year, he broke his own world record during the gold race with a time of 45.94.

The world record time is the only race Warholm has had a better time than he delivered at Bislett Stadium this Thursday.

– I was so sad when I lost him last year. It almost exceeded my own expectations today. I was hoping to get under 47 on a good day, but it was… Wow, said Warholm.

– You don’t get many Bislett Games during your career. That’s why it’s so much more enjoyable to come back, experience and feel the magic. And then run my second best race… I couldn’t ask for more than that, continued Sunnmoeringen.

NRK track expert Vebjørn Rodal was excited before the return of Warholm’s Bislett, but was aware that one shouldn’t expect him anywhere near the magic four this time around.

– It’s close to space (a world record), so I don’t think we should expect anything close to it. Then he surprised. If we’re looking at a low of 47 or maybe even 46, then Karsten Warholm is WC’s favourite, said Rodal on the NRK broadcast.

And with a time of 46.52, Warholm has got Rodal’s favorite stamp. American CJ Allen, who finished second, was more than a second behind Warholm.

It was revenge-seeking Karsten Warholm who shot from the starting block at Bislett Stadium. A thigh injury characterized much of last season and caused, among other things, his loss in the previous edition of the match at Bislett.

European Championship Gold in March

The competition on this warm June evening was Warholm’s first outdoor game of the season. He skipped competitions in Doha, Rabat, Rome and Paris to focus on training – and it’s safe to say that it paid off.

The 27-year-old athlete also showed his muscles earlier this year when, in the 400 meters flat, he ran his way to EC gold indoors in Istanbul.

He hopes to follow these two up with more precious metal during the World Championships in Athletics in Budapest in August. Bislett’s return isn’t just another step in the right direction for one of Norway’s leading gold hopes.

It was a real scare for all competitors.