Golden Girl: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Sets Another World Record In 400M Hurdles Final

Source: Xinhua News Agency / Getty

S ydney McLaughlin-Levrone is one of one. The New Jersey native set her sixth world record winning the 400M hurdles final at the Paris Olympics with a time of 50.32. McLaughlin-Levrone had not lost any race in the event since 2021, when she and Dalilah Muhammad traded world records.

McLaughlin-Levrone was the overwhelming favorite in the race but was expected to be tested by Femke Bol of the Netherlands. Before this Olympics, Bol had the second-fastest time in history.

But Bol and the rest of the field became the wake in McLaughlin-Levrone’s sprint to the finish line. The 400 hurdles, among the toughest of the track events has been owned by McLaughlin-Levrone who didn’t medal in her first Olympics in Rio when she was just 17.

She is the first to repeat as the 400M hurdles champion in Olympic history and did so the day after celebrating her 25th birthday.

“It’s a blessing. Just grateful for another opportunity, grateful to be healthy and to come out of it in one piece. There was a lot of anticipation leading up to this race,” McLaughlin-Levrone said afterward. “Just grateful for all that has been taking place. God has been good to me.”

The USA’s Anna Cockrell, who ran college track for USC, came in second. Bol faded to third, and was seen crying in her parent’s arms after the race, while McLaughlin-Levrone was handed a crown from her sister-in-law.

McLaughlin-Levrone’s success has helped her emerge as one of the most recognizable faces in track and field, doing advertisements for Neutrogena, watch brand Tag Heuer, and her apparel sponsor, New Balance.

Cockrell reflected on the evolution of the event, which was once far behind the other sprinting events in visibility and interest.

“I think this is a real renaissance moment for the 400-meter hurdles,” Cockrell said. “We have so many people running so fast from Sydney, to Dalilah (Muhammad), to myself and Femke (Bol). It’s a great time for this event. I’m exciting that people are paying attention to it and I’m proud to be in the moment.”

McLaughlin-Levrone is expected to be on the 4×100 relay to defend the team’s Tokyo gold medal won with Muhammad, Alyson Felix and Athing Mu. Only McLaughlin-Levrone has returned to the 2024 Olympics. Though some have suggested that she move to the 400M flat for a new challenge, McLaughlin-Levrone says she still believes that the sub-50 mark in the 400M hurdles can be broken.

“We’ve taken it so far. I have to credit these ladies next to me for helping do that,” she said. “This is an event that wasn’t very popular, but we made it very popular very quickly. I do think 49 (seconds) is possible.”

McLaughlin-Levrone added, “I do think the talent sitting in front of you can do that. I think we push each other to do that and get better and improve and find ways to lower these times that we for so long thought were impossible. I don’t know when it’s possible but I do think it’s out there.”

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