Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone effortlessly advanced through her first race at the Olympic Games, where she aims to defend the gold medal she earned in Tokyo. The star athlete from Team USA, who holds both the Olympic champion and world-record title, did clip the sixth hurdle – a rare occurrence for the track standout – but still won her heat by a considerable margin over her rivals.
While McLaughlin-Levrone’s initial performance appeared smooth, she faces stiff competition, particularly from Femke Bol of the Netherlands, the current world champion. Both athletes have set remarkable records, being the only ones to achieve times under 51 seconds in the 400m hurdles.
The 24-year-old McLaughlin-Levrone is set to defend her two gold medals from Tokyo during the track and field events at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She claimed victories in the women’s 400m hurdles and the women’s 4x400m relay in the 2020 Olympics, and expectations are high for her to excel in both events in Paris.
Her dedication to the sport was highlighted earlier this year at the Olympic Trials in Oregon, where she achieved a new world record of 50.65 seconds in her primary event, the women’s 400m hurdles. McLaughlin-Levrone will celebrate her birthday on August 7, amidst the competition in Paris.
This will mark her third Olympic appearance; she made her debut in Rio in 2016 at just 17 years old, becoming the youngest U.S. Olympian in track and field since 1972, although she did not reach the finals that year.
McLaughlin-Levrone is anticipated to compete in both the women’s 400m hurdles and the women’s 4x400m relay, where she and the U.S. team are the defending gold medalists. She was named the 2022 World Athletics Female Athlete of the Year.
The women’s 400m hurdles will unfold from August 4-8 in Paris, starting with the first round on August 4 at 6:35 a.m. ET. The schedule includes the repechage on August 5, the semi-finals on August 6, and the finals on August 8 at 3:25 p.m. ET.
The competition format involves six heats in the first round, with the top three athletes from each heat advancing to the semi-finals. Those who do not qualify will have a second chance through a repechage, which includes additional heats. The semi-finals consist of three heats, with the top two from each heat and the two fastest overall not already qualified moving forward to the finals.
In addition, the women’s 4x400m relay will take place on August 9 and 10, beginning with the first round at 4:40 a.m. ET on August 9, followed by the final on August 10 at 3:14 p.m. ET. In this relay format, athletes race 400 meters in teams of four, adhering to specific lane regulations for the first lap before converging.
Fans can catch McLaughlin-Levrone’s races live on NBC and Peacock, with streaming available at nbcolympics.com.
Sydney McLaughlin became Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone after marrying Andre Levrone Jr. in May 2022, following their engagement the previous August. Originally from Dunellen, New Jersey, she continues to inspire a new generation of athletes with her exceptional talent and determination.