00:00At the ARC, the U.S. team lounge, everyone rooted for Rye Benjamin, the unofficial team
00:06captain who had cheered them on for days.
00:10Benjamin had faced heartbreak in Tokyo, losing to Karsten Warholm, despite breaking a world
00:15record.
00:17He told his coach before the Paris race,
00:19''I already made peace with whatever's going to happen out there.''
00:24The 27-year-old hurdler of Antiguan heritage insisted that a gold medal was not essential
00:29for his fulfillment.
00:31Yet, as he neared the finish line of the men's 400-meter hurdles, he realized he was about
00:37to change his narrative.
00:40Running in lane 8, Benjamin surged forward and maintained his lead, despite technical
00:45bobbles that could have derailed him.
00:48Warholm, the man who had once shattered his dreams, was in pursuit but could not catch
00:53him this time.
00:56In 46.46 seconds, Benjamin claimed his first individual Olympic gold, three years after
01:02his Tokyo heartbreak.
01:06He crossed the line with a megawatt smile and spread his arms wide.
01:10''This has eluded me for so long,'' he said.
01:15His journey had been grueling, from Tokyo's heartbreak, where he had experienced what
01:19he now believes was a panic attack, to overcoming injuries and setbacks.
01:26Resilience saw him through, and he earned silver and bronze in subsequent world championships.
01:32The Paris Olympics brought a fitting culmination to his perseverance.
01:38Benjamin's strategy focused on being better than the best, even on his worst day.
01:43Mid-race, technical errors nearly jeopardized his lead, but Benjamin stayed composed.
01:50''Please, don't fall,'' he thought as he regained balance and surged ahead while Warholm lagged,
01:56feeling the lactic acid burn.
02:00With five meters to go, Benjamin realized he had got it.
02:04He crossed the finish line, tore off his bib in triumph, and saved it as a memento of his
02:09victory.
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