PARIS, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The United States' Rai Benjamin took gold in the men's 400m hurdles with a season best time of 46.46 seconds at the Paris Olympics on Friday.
Defending champion Karsten Warholm of Norway took silver in 47.06, and Brazil's Alison dos Santos claimed bronze in 47.26.
Benjamin, who has five podium finishes at the world championships, was the silver medalist at the Tokyo Olympics.
"It has eluded me for so long, this color medal," Benjamin said. "To get it done here, in this fashion, at the Olympic Games in front of my friends and family, it just means so much to me."
He revealed that he almost came undone when he landed awkwardly after jumping the seventh hurdle.
"I was thinking to myself, 'Please don't fall, please don't fall,'" he said.
Benjamin, who entered the race with the second and fourth-fastest times in history, admitted that he needed a major title to cap his career and be remembered by future generations.
"I'm so glad now I have it. It means so much to me," he added.
