STOCKHOLM, July 2 (Reuters) - Norway's Olympic champion Karsten Warholm won the men's 400 metres hurdles in a race that was hindered by a protest from environmentalists at a rain-hit Galan Diamond League meet on Sunday. The 27-year-old double world champion, who slapped his thighs and let out a loud whoop during the introductions, ran blind in the outside lane en route to a time of 47.57 seconds. WORLD RECORD ATTEMPTThe rain wreaked havoc with numerous events, particularly the much-anticipated men's pole vault featuring local hero Armand Duplantis. He then missed on three attempts at 6.23, which would have topped his world record of 6.22. With Lamecha Girma of Ethiopia breaking the steeplechase world record last month in Paris, there could be a thrilling battle between the African pair at the worlds in Hungary.

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Persons: Karsten Warholm, Galan, Warholm, Armand Duplantis, Kristjan, Daniel Stahl of Sweden, Freweyni Hailu, Hailu, Beatrice Chebet, Soufiane El, Akani, Simbine, Lori Ewing, Tommy Lund, Ken Ferris, Toby Davis Organizations: Galan Diamond League, A22 Network, TV4, NRK, Stockholm, Broadcasters, Thomson Locations: STOCKHOLM, Norwegian, Budapest, Slovenia, Soufiane El Bakkali, Morocco, Ethiopia, Paris, Hungary, South Africa, Gdansk