After his injury struggles in 2023, nobody knew quite what to expect when Alison Dos Santos returned to Wanda Diamond League action in Doha this week.
World champion and Wanda Diamond League champion in 2022, the Brazilian 400m hurdler had suffered a setback the following year, finishing only fifth at the World Championships in Budapest and failing to win a single Diamond League meeting as he battled with a knock to the knee.
Yet if there was any doubt about Dos Santos' potential ahead of the 2024 Olympics, he blew it to smithereens with a staggering performance to launch his Diamond League season in Doha.
Up against the likes of CJ Allen, Wilfried Happio and Khallifah Rosser, the 23-year-old soared around the track with his usual languid brilliance, leaving the rest of the field gasping in his wake as he surged ahead after the final barrier.
When he crossed the line, the Wanda Diamond League's official timekeeper clocked a meeting record and world lead of 46.86, the fifth-fastest time in history and the fastest ever posted before the month of June.
As well as the OMEGA Moment of the Meeting, it was also an emphatic demonstration of intent ahead of the Olympic Games this summer and a reminder why Dos Santos is one of the big three in the 400m hurdles alongside Karsten Warholm and reigning Diamond League champion Rai Benjamin.
Yet the Brazilian insisted it was only the beginning as he looks to make history once again in 2024.
"I'm really happy. That was the first one, so we just need to keep working and keep practising and good things will come this year," he said. "It's amazing because it's a great time but we know we can do better. So it's really exciting ahead of the Olympics."
