Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has once again demonstrated her dominance in athletics by breaking her own world record in the 400-meter hurdles, clocking in at 50.37 seconds on Thursday night to secure her Olympic title. The 25-year-old American athlete has now set the world record six times throughout her career. She led the race decisively and finished 1.50 seconds ahead of her teammate Anna Cockrell.
“The focus should always be on the hurdles, not the competition around me,” McLaughlin-Levrone said. “I aim to be as efficient as possible over each hurdle while striving to improve my time.”
Previously, McLaughlin-Levrone had set the record at 50.65 seconds during the U.S. Olympic trials in June. The race, held at the Stade de France, drew considerable attention due to the rivalry between McLaughlin-Levrone and Femke Bol from the Netherlands. However, it was Cockrell’s impressive performance that stole the spotlight, while Bol finished in third place, visibly disappointed.
Bol acknowledged her performance, stating, “I screwed it up… I experienced a lot of lactic acid with 300 meters to go. I’m really unsure of what went wrong.”
Upon finishing, McLaughlin-Levrone glanced at the scoreboard and smiled, showcasing her ease with breaking records. While there are areas she hopes to improve, she is edging closer to the prospect of finishing in the 49-second range.
“It’s all about building the strength in your legs to maintain that speed,” she noted, having married former NFL player Andre Levrone Jr. in 2022.
With this victory, McLaughlin-Levrone improved her head-to-head record against Bol to 3-0, having previously bested her at both the Tokyo Games and the 2022 world championships. Though she was unable to compete at last year’s world championships in Budapest due to injury, Bol seized that opportunity to claim her first world title.
After the race, McLaughlin-Levrone offered Bol supportive words and a hug, highlighting Bol’s recent transition into the hurdles. Cockrell also celebrated, achieving a personal best by 0.77 seconds.
“I’ve always called myself a showtime girl. When the stakes are high, I rise to the occasion,” Cockrell expressed.
Trained by Bobby Kersee, McLaughlin-Levrone has meticulously prepared for this moment for the past two years, focusing on various distances and hurdles to enhance her skills and speed.
“I knew this was achievable,” she reflected. “I anticipated that breaking the world record would be essential to winning this race.”
In a light-hearted moment, she paraded around the track in a tiara brought by her sister-in-law, playfully indicating her intention to put on a performance worthy of the accessory.
McLaughlin-Levrone first made waves as a remarkable teenage athlete, even showcasing her ability to juggle while riding a unicycle. She has competed in the Olympics since age 17 and has garnered a gold medal as part of the women’s 4×400 relay team in Tokyo.
As she looks forward, McLaughlin-Levrone is eager to compete again: “I’m always available if they need me on the 4×400 relay team in Paris.”