Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone breaks 400m hurdles world record to win gold

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone confirmed her status as one of the most dominant athletes of the modern era with victory in the Olympic 400m hurdles final, breaking her own world record in a time of 50.37 seconds.

The 25-year-old confirmed her mastery of an event in which she has now broken the world record six times when she beat the formidable Dutch star Femke Bol (52.15) easily into third at the Stade de France on Thursday night. USA’s Anna Cockrell won silver in 51.87.

McLaughlin-Levrone appeared to barely break a sweat as she came home by a huge margin. She looked up at the video board and gave a quick smile when world record was confirmed. At this point, such achievements are almost routine for her. She is expected to run in the 4x400m relay later this week, where she can win the third Olympic gold of her career.

With the gold, she becomes the first American to defend gold in an individual track event since Michael Johnson’s back-to-back 400m golds in 1996 and 2000.

Earlier in the evening, the Americans won two medals in the 200m: 100m champion Noah Lyles won bronze and Kenny Bednarek took silver behind Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, who ran superbly to claim gold. It was revealed after the race that Lyles is suffering from Covid.

USA claimed another gold later on Thursday when Grant Holloway won the men’s 110m hurdles in front of his teammate Daniel Roberts. Jamaica’s Rasheed Broadbell won bronze. There was relief and joy for Holloway: he is a three-time world champion but had never won an Olympic gold.

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