Wins 400 Meter Hurdles in Paris, defeats Rival Who Beat Him in Tokyo Olympics
By Dan Murphy
One of the most difficult feats in all of athletics is for an olympian to win a medal in one olympics, and then come back four years later to win another. Mount Vernon’s Rai Benjamin is now one of those special athletes after winning the 400-meter hurdles at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics on Aug.9.
Three years ago, Benjamin won the Silver Medal at the Tokyo Olympics, losing the Karsent Warholm from Norway, who ran the race of his life with a new world record. Almost immediately after his second place finish, Benjamin committed himself to returning to the Olympics in Paris and capture gold.
Last month, Benjamin defeated Warholm and posted the fastest time in the 400-Meter Hurdles this year. But Warholm still owned the world record, so many were predicting that he would win another gold.
But anyone paying attention to Benjamin’s passion, work ethic, and growing confidence knew that he was going to win Gold. And as the race began, it was Benjamin leading Warholm, and as Benjamin ran to victory, Warholm seemed to falter on one of the last hurdles.
“I just focused on running my own race, and i knew that if I did that I would win today,” said Benjamin after the race to Bruce Beck.
“What does this say about the great Mt. Vernon atheltes?” asked Beck.
“It says alot of great athletes have come through Mt Vernon, Ben Gordon and a slew of basketball players.
“Denzel Washington if you are watching we did it. I know all of Westchester was watching. Thank you for your support going through the whole process to get back here,” said Benjamin, 27, who now has two gold medals and one silver. He won a Gold in Tokyo as a member of the mens’ 4 x 400m Relay.
“This color of medal has eluded me for so long – to get it done in this fashion at the Olympic Games in front of friends and family, in front of everybody means so much to me. I don’t think I ever doubted it – it was more just stay patient and keep showing up every day. I told myself this has to go my way one day – and it went my way today and that’s all I can ask for.”
Rai Benjamin is now one of those special olympians, winning a Gold and Silver in Tokyo and a Gold in Paris. Congratulations!
