Breaking News: Rai Benjamin blazed through the barriers in Stockholm, clocking a world-leading 46.54 💥🔥. The American star left no doubts in the 400m hurdles, owning the track at the 2025 Diamond League in style 🧊

 

KSTOCKHOLM, Sweden** — American hurdling ace **Rai Benjamin** delivered a masterclass performance at the 2025 BAUHAUS-Galan Diamond League meet on June 15, storming to a **world-leading 46.54 seconds** in the men’s 400m hurdles. The time not only decimated the competition but also sent a clear message ahead of this summer’s World Championships: Benjamin is back, and he means business.

 

Under clear Nordic skies at Stockholm’s historic Olympic Stadium, Benjamin exploded out of the blocks and never looked back, blitzing the track with surgical precision and unmatched rhythm. The 26-year-old’s time of 46.54 marked the **fastest in the world this year**, setting a new **meet record** and stamping his authority in a field stacked with Olympic and World Championship medalists.

 

> “I felt in control the whole way. I wanted to make a statement,” Benjamin said after the race. “This is the kind of form we’ve been building toward all season.”

 

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### **A Rivalry Reignited**

 

The race featured a much-anticipated showdown between the “big three” of the 400m hurdles: **Rai Benjamin (USA), Karsten Warholm (NOR), and Alison dos Santos (BRA)** — the top three all-time performers in the event. But it was Benjamin who stood tallest on the day.

 

Warholm, the world record holder (45.94) and two-time world champion, came into Stockholm just days after an intense 300m hurdles effort in Oslo, but faded to third in 47.41. Dos Santos, the 2022 world champion, finished second in 47.09 but was never truly in contention for the win.

 

Benjamin’s 46.54 was just eight hundredths off his personal best (46.46) and now stands as one of the **top 10 fastest times ever** recorded in the event.

 

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### **The Significance of 46.54**

 

* **World Lead:** Fastest time globally in 2025 so far.

* **Meet Record:** Shattered the previous Stockholm Diamond League mark.

* **Momentum:** Comes on the heels of his Olympic gold at Paris 2024.

* **Psychological Edge:** Dismantled his two biggest rivals on a major stage.

 

This wasn’t just a good race — it was a **statement victory**, the kind that resonates heading into a championship year. Benjamin’s composure over the final 100 meters, where he often used to fade slightly, showed a level of maturity and tactical awareness that bodes well for the rest of the season.

 

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### **The Road Ahead**

 

Benjamin’s victory in Stockholm was followed by yet another impressive win in **Paris**, where he clocked 46.93 — the second-fastest time of 2025. These back-to-back sub-47 performances underscore that his fitness is peaking at exactly the right time.

 

The focus now shifts to the **2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo**, where the sport’s elite will clash once more in what could be one of the most anticipated 400m hurdles finals in history.

 

If Stockholm was the spark, Tokyo promises to be the wildfire.

 

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### **Final Word**

 

Rai Benjamin’s brilliance in Stockholm was not just about time, titles, or technique — it was about **making a statement**. In a discipline rich with historic rivalries and legendary performances, Benjamin’s 46.54 served notice that he’s not chasing history — he’s ready to define it.