Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone showed who reigns supreme in the 400m hurdles. The American made a mess of the competitors and thundered in with a new world record.
There had been talk of a super duel between Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Femke Bol at the Olympics, but when the 400m hurdles final started, only one of the runners was in the limelight.
Bol had nothing to oppose McLaughlin-Levrone and instead of a fight for the gold, it was the hurdle queen against the clock at the end. And McLaughlin-Levrone certainly delivered again.
McLaughlin-Levrone improved her six-week-old world record by 28 hundredths and, as of this moment at the Stade de France, 50.37 is the best time ever over the distance.
– There were great expectations around this race, and rightfully so. There are runners around trying to put pressure but I just focused on the hurdles in front of me, she says according to AFP.
On the way to 49 seconds
After the race, McLaughlin-Levrone was presented with a queen’s crown and wrapped in the American flag, she accepted the cheers of the crowd.
This was the sixth time that McLaughlin-Levrone ran a new world record. The first (51.90) she set in June 2021 – a time she improved to 51.46 in the Olympics a few weeks later.
The same show was repeated now but she does not want to see this world record as the perfect race.
– There is no such thing, but the closer we get to 49 seconds, the better. I feel like we’re getting there. It’s just a matter of building up the capacity to reach that goal, she says.
Tiresome words to the competitor
Femke Bol was not really recognizable in the final and only had to settle for bronze. She was passed by Anna Cockrell at the end.
– I made all the mistakes I shouldn’t have made. I still got a bronze so I can’t be completely unsatisfied. The Olympics are only every four years and you didn’t want to do a bad race, she says.
Still, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone sent some comforting words to Bol after the race.
– I have so much respect for her. We just try to get the best out of ourselves. She is fantastic and is constantly getting faster and that pushes me, she says.
