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Alastair Chalmers has booked his spot at the Paris Olympics after a day of high drama at the UK Athletics Championships.
Yesterday was Chalmers last chance to put down an Olympic qualifying time in the 400m hurdles, having come up just 0.6s short of the 48.70s standard at the European Championships last month.
Alastair Chalmers has been reinstated on appeal.@GsyAla takes gold in the men's 400m hurdles!#UKChamps2024 pic.twitter.com/j6pwwTpD0t
— British Athletics (@BritAthletics) June 30, 2024
A disqualification for a false start in the final appeared to leave his hopes in the dust.
Chalmers argued that the music in the stands was putting him off and was allowed to run the final under protest.
He stormed around the damp Manchester track in 48.54s for the win, not only breaking the standard but also Ed Moses’ championship record of 48.58s from 1979.
Chalmers dived over the finish line in an echo of the time he first went sub-50 at Footes Lane.
An hour and a half later he was reinstated and his ticket for Paris booked.
“This is the best day of my life, but it’s been the most stressful couple of hours of my life as well,” said Chalmers.
“To run 48.5 in the rain in Manchester is unbelievable and legendary. I am just so proud of myself and absolutely ecstatic.”
Alex Knibbs was second in 49.37s and Efekemo Okoro third in 49.44s.
Speaking to Athletics Weekly, he reflected on making history: "Paris, I'm ready," he said.
Chalmers’ time ranks him 27th in the world this year.
It was his fifth national title.
The opening round of the Olympic men’s 400m hurdles is on Monday 5 August at 09:05.
Sark’s Carl Hester will also be competing in the dressage in Paris.
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