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The Paris Olympics Bronze medalist finished his season on a high with a blistering run after Clarke fumbled in the seventh hurdle.
Brazil’s Alison Dos Santos has ended his season on a high by running a blistering 47.93 run in Brussels to take home the 2024 Diamond League trophy on Saturday night.
Dos Santos edged out Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba, who crossed the line in 48.20 and Rasmus Magi of Estonia, who finished third on 48.26.
America’s CJ Allen just missed out on the podium in fourth place, while Roshawn Clark finished fifth after faltering in the seventh hurdle which prevented him from repeating his heroics from Zurich a week ago.
Clarke was looking on course to genuinely challenge his Brazilian counterpart, but he mistimed the hurdle down the turn which made him lose momentum at a crucial point in the race.
For Dos Santos, the victory marked not only a second Diamond League trophy but a triumphant conclusion to a season that began with uncertainty due to injury. Reflecting on the race, he expressed his satisfaction with his recovery and return to form.
“I’m taking my second DL trophy home tonight, and that's a great achievement. I’ve fully recovered from a serious injury, and I stayed healthy during this season. That’s probably the most important thing. It was not easy mentally to get back to this level, but I’m happy that it all worked out,” Dos Santos shared.
Acknowledging the fierce competition in the 400m hurdles, Dos Santos added, “I’m part of a world-class generation in the 400m hurdles with Karsten [Warholm], Benjamin [Rai], Rasmus [Magi], CJ [Allen]. We made history together – we are all among the best hurdlers of all time.”
In addition to his performance on the track, Dos Santos revealed a personal connection to Belgium, having trained in Leuven. “I love running in Brussels, and I actually have a link with Belgium. I’ve been training in Leuven, and it was the perfect place for me – great facilities, good food, and a location that suited me. I’ll definitely be back there to train more often,” he said.
For Samba, the race left him feeling unsatisfied despite his strong performance. The Qatari hurdler believed he had the title within reach but was unable to find his stride early in the race, leaving him chasing Dos Santos throughout.
“I thought I was going to win tonight, but in the beginning, I couldn’t get my stride right. I tried to catch up with Dos Santos, but he was too fast today. I really don’t know how I got those last hurdles right. It was a long season, and we’re all a bit disappointed, but we’ll look ahead to next season,” Samba remarked.
With Dos Santos now closing the curtain on a remarkable season, he stands as a leading figure in the world of 400m hurdles, ready to build on this victory and return stronger for the challenges ahead.
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