National sprinter Umar Osman has rewritten the history books once again after smashing his own national 400-meter record at the New Taipei City Athletics Open in Taiwan.

The 22-year-old athlete delivered a sensational performance during the second semifinal heat, clocking an incredible time of 45.73 seconds to secure his spot in the final.

A Historic Sub-46 Second Milestone

Umar’s breathtaking run marks a monumental milestone for Malaysian athletics, making him the first sprinter in the nation’s history to break the elusive 46-second barrier in the 400m event.

This historic achievement effectively erases his previous national record of 46.09 seconds, which he set nearly three years ago on August 2, 2023, during the third semifinal heat of the World University Games (UNIVERSIADE) in Chengdu, China.

The breakthrough successfully concludes a dedicated three-year pursuit to lower his personal best and national benchmark.

“I am very happy; I have waited for this for three years,” Umar expressed. “Through all the exhaustion of training, the ups and downs, I remained determined to achieve this time. Today is a historic day for me.”

Silver Medal Glory in the Finals

To cap off an already unforgettable campaign in Taiwan, Umar carried his fiery semifinal momentum straight into the final. Facing stiff competition, the young Malaysian stellar run earned him a podium finish, capturing the silver medal with a commendable time of 46.42 seconds.

Umar’s record-shattering semifinal time of 45.73 seconds comfortably positions him within the top five rankings in Asia when measured against the finalists from the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games.

His current trajectory signals that he will once again be a formidable challenger to regional heavyweights, including Southeast Asian Games record holder Joshua Atkinson of Thailand, who holds a personal best of 45.13 seconds.