Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone smashes 400m hurdles world record, takes gold

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone overcomes Femke Bol in the final of the 400mH to succesfuly defend Olympic crown and smash own world record.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone once again proved her dominance in the 400 meters hurdles by capturing gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Thursday night.

The American track star not only claimed the top spot but also shattered her own world record with a remarkable time of 50.37 seconds, solidifying her legacy as the greatest 400m hurdler of all time.

In an intense final, McLaughlin-Levrone faced stiff competition from the Netherlands' Femke Bol, who had been unbeaten in her last 40 races leading up to the Games.

However, Bol could only manage a bronze medal finish with a time of 52.15 seconds, visibly disappointed by her performance and race tactics, which saw her go out too hard too soon. American Anna Cockrell took the silver medal, clocking a personal best of 51.87 seconds.

McLaughlin-Levrone, who celebrated her 25th birthday just a day before her triumph, became the first woman to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals in the 400m hurdles, and only the fifth U.S. woman to secure gold in consecutive Olympic Games across any track and field event. Her victory was met with thunderous applause as she draped herself in the American flag, savoring the moment.

This latest achievement adds to McLaughlin-Levrone's growing list of accolades. She had previously set a world record of 50.65 seconds at the Olympic Trials in Oregon in June, but surpassed that mark with her stunning performance in Paris.

McLaughlin-Levrone’s journey to the top began at the Rio 2016 Olympics, where she made her debut at just 17 years old, becoming the youngest U.S. Olympian in track and field since 1972. Although she exited in the semifinals that year, her progression since has been nothing short of extraordinary.

In the lead-up to her gold-medal race, McLaughlin-Levrone appeared to be in peak form, breezing through the semifinals with a time of 52.13 seconds, the fastest among all qualifiers. Her victory in the final was not only a personal triumph but also a testament to her relentless pursuit of excellence.

With the women's 4x400m relay still ahead, McLaughlin-Levrone is expected to compete for another gold medal on Friday, further pushing the boundaries of what she and her competitors can achieve on the track.

posted Friday August 9th
by Mark Kinyanjui