Dos Santos breaks 400m hurdles world record
Alison dos Santos broke the 400m hurdles world record with a time of 45.80 seconds at the Weltklasse meet in Zürich, cementing his dominance this season.
Alison dos Santos broke the 400m hurdles world record with a time of 45.80 seconds. The 26-year-old Brazilian achieved the mark at the Weltklasse meet in Zürich, moving to second on the all-time list behind only Karsten Warholm's 45.94.
Now, after a sensational 45.80 to win the Weltklasse race, dos Santos has officially solidified his status as the current king of the hurdles. He saw signs early in the season that he had the potential to break the record, starting with a 300m hurdles win in Shaoxing, China in May, where he ran 33.01 in a tight race against Warholm.
“After China, doing the 300, I was like, ‘OK, we’re cooking with that,’” dos Santos said, according to the source report.
Dominant Season Builds to Record
From there, he won every hurdles race he entered. His season progression built momentum toward the record attempt. Key wins included convincing victories over rival Karsten Warholm.
| Meeting | Result |
|---|---|
| Xiamen | 46.72 |
| Stockholm | 47.11 |
| Oslo | 46.89 |
| Brazilian Championships | 46.48 |
| Chorzów | 46.43 |
He took a 400m/400m hurdles double at the Brazilian Championships in July, clocking 44.60 and 46.48. His flat 400m personal best, set in April, is 44.38.
“I have been showing great form throughout the season, that I am fast, that I am strong,” he said. After his win in Chorzów, where he ran 46.43 to Warholm's 46.52, his confidence grew. “After [Chorzów], we knew we had it,” dos Santos stated.
Execution in Zürich
The strategy for Zürich involved beating Warholm, known for his aggressive starts, at his own game. Dos Santos blitzed the first 150 meters, quickly catching and passing the Norwegian and establishing an insurmountable lead. When he crossed the finish and the clock stopped at 45.80, the crowd exploded.
Among those on hand to congratulate dos Santos was two-time Olympic gold medalist Edwin Moses. The Brazilian's record came in a packed stadium, unlike Warholm's pandemic-era record set in Tokyo.
Journey to the Top
Dos Santos has had an unlikely journey. As a 10-month-old baby in São Joaquim da Barra, he was accidentally doused with scalding hot cooking oil, which permanently burned portions of his face, head and upper body. He found confidence as a teenager through track success.
He took bronze at the 2018 World U20 Championships, won 2019 Pan-Am gold, and placed 7th in Doha that year. In 2021, he improved his personal best to 46.72 to win bronze in the iconic Olympic final where Warholm set his 45.94 world record.
“I ran 46.7, and that was faster than the previous World Record, but I was 3rd, and that was painful,” he said of Tokyo. “The next time that I break a World Record, I gotta make sure I cross the line first.”
He won the 2022 World Championships gold in Eugene with a 46.29. Warholm reclaimed the world title in 2023, while Rai Benjamin won the 2024 Olympics and 2025 Worlds. Dos Santos earned another Olympic bronze in Paris. You can review the progression of this historic rivalry in our standings archive.
Through the ups and downs, dos Santos brings his bubbly personality to the track, often dancing during pre-race introductions. “Bringing my personality to the track is very important,” he said. “The idea is to be able to inspire new people.”
While he's been the star this season, dos Santos welcomes Benjamin's eventual return to the hurdles full time. “Nothing will change. I’ll keep doing my best,” he says. For more on the athletes' schedules and upcoming clashes, check the fixtures page. He finished by noting, “We’re all trying to do better.”
