Outside of Norway, most people probably hadn’t heard of Karsten Warholm before Wednesday night. That’s when the Norwegian sprinter shot to fame, not just for winning the men’s 400-meter hurdles, but for his reaction afterward when he realized he beat the event favorites, European champion Yasmani Copello of Turkey and reigning Olympics winner Kerron Clement of the United States. Copello and Clement settled for silver and bronze, respectively, finishing more than a tenth of a second behind Warholm’s time of 48.35 in rainy conditions at the IAAF World Championships in London.
Warholm, 21, looked more shocked than anyone at his upset win, reacting with a jaw-dropping expression that made him an instant Internet darling.
The Norwegian’s win took a while to set in, and still hadn’t by the time sports photographers reached him on the track.
“What’s going on, is this real?” Warholm reportedly asked Reuters photog Phil Noble.
Noble said yes, but Warholm apparently still wasn’t convinced.
“Pinch me,” the sprinter said, sticking out his arm, so Noble did, which appeared to finally make things click for the 21-year-old.
“Yes, it’s real,” Warholm said, by then wrapped in his country’s flag and sporting a viking helmet.
The original article was published in the Washington Post.
Norwegian sprinter has amazing reaction to win at worlds, sports viking helmet
11 August 2017
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