Warholm Does It Again
Athletics Weekly|October 03, 2019
NORWEGIAN HANDLES THE PRESSURE TO SUCCESSFULLY DEFEND HIS 400m HURDLES WORLD TITLE IN DOHA
Warholm Does It Again

400m HURDLES

LEIF OLAV ALNES​ remembers going to meet Karsten Warholm and his family not long after he had been approached to come out of semi-retirement and coach an athlete who was “obviously talented”.

The meeting went well enough that the 62-year-old shelved his plans to spend more time diving and fishing and there have been no regrets about what has been a fateful decision.

He now has a double 400m hurdles world champion on his hands, after all.

Alnes believes his athlete’s greatest talent is not necessarily his very evident physical prowess, but rather “above where you have the collar – in his head”.

Warholm certainly needed mental strength when it came to defending his title in Qatar.

When he first screamed his way into the global athletics consciousness with his gold medal-winning performance in the London rain in 2017, he took everyone by surprise. This time, in Doha, the world was watching and the Norwegian had a sizeable target on his back.

Yet he still found a way to finish first against the rivals who had been threatening to dethrone him. In what was a thrilling final, Warholm produced a typically bold performance to achieve a clear win in 47.42, ahead of American Rai Benjamin’s 47.66 and a bronze medal from Qatari Abderrahman Samba in 48.03 which brought cheers from the home supporters in the Khalifa Stadium.

Warholm, whose outward confidence is a trademark, admitted to feeling the pre-race pressure. In such moments, the approach and philosophy of his coach is significant.

“In my world, sport is not so important,” smiles Alnes. “Not really. We’re not curing cancer or anything like that.

“I understand that there is very little downside to it (sport). If you lose, that’s not dangerous, so we’re never afraid to lose. We’re afraid of not progressing.

Esta historia es de la edición October 03, 2019 de Athletics Weekly.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición October 03, 2019 de Athletics Weekly.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE ATHLETICS WEEKLYVer todo
Carbon Footprint
Athletics Weekly

Carbon Footprint

You'd have had to have been running on a different planet to miss all the recent debate about carbon-plated shoes. The talk of bans and performance enhancement has been so widespread that even non-runners are asking their running friends about the potentially magical footwear.

time-read
2 minutos  |
March 26, 2020
Athletics Weekly

Trail time

WHEN looking for a trail or off-road running shoe, it’s often all about the grip. However, given that no two paths are the same, careful consideration is required. What’s the terrain like where you’ll wear the shoes the most? If you’ll be negotiating soft, wet and muddy conditions then look for deeper lugs. For tackling gravel tracks and forest trails then more evenly spaced lugs will work better. When it comes to cushioning, consider how hard the ground will be; if it’s soft then you’ll be fine in low-profile shoes, but on those firmer tracks reasonable cushioning will be called for.

time-read
4 minutos  |
March 26, 2020
Stay neutral
Athletics Weekly

Stay neutral

EVOLVING every year, if not month, neutral cushioned shoes are seeing developments in cushioning materials and dynamics at a pace which is nothing short of astonishing. The latest models feature new polymers in the midsoles to give them a cushioned feel while at the same time keeping their weight to a minimum. Give them a spin and choose the most comfortable for mile after mile of shock absorbing running.

time-read
5 minutos  |
March 26, 2020
Support network
Athletics Weekly

Support network

WHEN it comes to ‘over-pronation’, a common question is ‘how much is over?’. With no hard and fast rules, it’s best to choose a shoe that instinctively feels right. Gait analysis can often assist in helping you make this choice and your specialist running store is always a good place to start if in doubt. To help you make that choice, here’s a selection of some of the best ‘support’ shoes around.

time-read
4 minutos  |
March 26, 2020
Need for speed
Athletics Weekly

Need for speed

THE racing shoe segment of the market is becoming somewhat split. This is partially due to the rise of carbon-plated footwear but also the fact that many shoes are becoming much lighter. Here we take a look at some of the leading contenders to toe the line in.

time-read
2 minutos  |
March 26, 2020
Athletics Weekly

Gadget show

WITH technological products to enhance every area of life, running is now no different. From headphones to treadmills, the devices to aid performance and recovery are endless. Here we take a look at some of the latest gadgets and gizmos to enhance your training.

time-read
6 minutos  |
March 26, 2020
What's in a shoe?
Athletics Weekly

What's in a shoe?

We bust some of the jargon around footwear

time-read
1 min  |
March 26, 2020
How To Prime Your Immunity
Athletics Weekly

How To Prime Your Immunity

Taking steps to shore your body’s defences has never been more important. Here’s how to do it, says Peta Bee

time-read
6 minutos  |
March 26, 2020
English Schools Survival At Stake
Athletics Weekly

English Schools Survival At Stake

Covid-19 could lead to ESAA losing thousands this summer

time-read
2 minutos  |
March 19, 2020
Covid-19: Athletics Events Are Wiped Out
Athletics Weekly

Covid-19: Athletics Events Are Wiped Out

Unprecedented calendar changes due to Covid-19

time-read
3 minutos  |
March 19, 2020