By Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone once again shattered her own world record in the 400-meter hurdles, clocking an astonishing 50.37 seconds on Thursday night to defend her Olympic title. The 25-year-old American has now lowered the world record six times.
In a race that captivated audiences at the Stade de France, McLaughlin-Levrone led from the start and breezed down the home stretch, finishing 1.50 seconds ahead of her teammate Anna Cockrell. McLaughlin-Levrone had set the previous world record of 50.65 seconds on June 30 at the U.S. Olympic trials.
This race was highly anticipated due to the intense rivalry between McLaughlin-Levrone and Femke Bol of the Netherlands. However, Cockrell disrupted the expected duel, finishing second while Bol took third place, visibly frustrated as she walked off the track shaking her head.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s performance was nothing short of extraordinary. Her unparalleled speed and technique made it impossible for competitors to catch her once she got up to speed. Upon crossing the finish line, McLaughlin-Levrone glanced at the scoreboard and smiled, making the feat of breaking records appear almost effortless.
This victory extended McLaughlin-Levrone’s undefeated streak against Bol to 3-0. She previously defeated Bol at the Tokyo Games in 2021, where Bol finished third, and again a year later at the world championships in Oregon. Although McLaughlin-Levrone missed last season’s world championships in Budapest due to injury, this race left no doubt about her dominance.
Guided by coach Bobby Kersee, McLaughlin-Levrone has been meticulously building toward this moment over the past few years. Often training away from the spotlight, she has competed in events ranging from the 200 and 400 meters to the short hurdles — the 100 and 60 meters indoors — to refine her speed and technique.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s latest world record was achieved in front of a packed house, demonstrating her ability to rise to the occasion and deliver unparalleled performances on the world’s biggest stage.
apnews.com
