Crowd-pleasing Warholm prepares for 'crazy times' ahead

Karsten Warholm enjoyed the moment of defending his world 400 metres hurdles title but said "crazy times" lie ahead when he will be hunted down by "great opponents".

The charismatic 23-year-old Norwegian -- who in 2017 became his country's first world champion since Inge Kristiansen in 1987 -- won impressively.

He put clear space between himself and the other two athletes in the final -- Rai Benjamin of the United States and Qatar's Abderrahman Samba -- who had broken the magical 47 second mark.

Warholm, who had come out pumped for the race bellowing when his name was announced and pumping his fists, said the conmfortable nature of his win did not make him complacent about the future challenges he faced at the Olympics next year.

"With these great opponents, every one of them sub-47 I am going to have to work work very hard," he said.

"These guys are going to hunt me.

"Crazy times ahead and I am not going to sleep!"
"I go out to have fun and run the race, who knows others around me may take the record one day."
- 'Smile on my face' -
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"At the same time it is a gold medal so I could not have cared less."
"I will go to bed and have a smile on my face because the best feeling you get is crossing the line when you win."