Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone defends Olympic 400m hurdles title with unprecedented sixth world record

Head-to-head with Femke Bol was billed as a stand-out rivalry of these Games, but Dutch star was obliterated by American

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone confirmed her status among the all-time greats of athletics, romping to a successful defence of her Olympic 400m hurdles title with an unprecedented sixth world record in the same track event.
The potential head-to-head with the Netherlands’ Femke Bol had been billed as one of the stand-out rivalries of the Olympics but, in front of thousands of Dutch fans, McLaughlin-Levrone was utterly dominant in running 50.37sec for the first individual track world record of these Games.
Bol, who had produced a stunning anchor leg to help the Netherlands win the 4x400m mixed relay on Saturday night, is the only other woman to run under 51 seconds but looked tired and was beaten into third place by the American Anna Cockrell.
Starting inside Bol, they were relatively level for the open 100 metres before McLaughlin-Levrone moved into a decisive lead down the back straight before surging to victory by almost two seconds.
McLaughlin-Levrone is also the world’s fastest 400m flat runner this year but opted to focus exclusively on the hurdles at these Games.
In an interview earlier this year with Telegraph Sport, McLaughlin-Levrone said that she thought that Marita Koch’s 47.60sec 400m flat world record was possible and would also like to try out other events such as the long jump.
“It’s a wonderful challenge,” says McLaughlin-Levrone. “I love trying to figure out new events – and see how you put a race like that together. It sounds insane but I’m sure it’s possible. I’m sure eventually somebody will.
“I love being able to have range, do different things. I’m still trying to convince Bobby [Kersee, her coach] to let me long jump. It would be super fun. I gotta get through this year first and then we can maybe negotiate.”
McLoughlin-Levrone is expected to run in the 4x400m relay later this week, where she can win the third Olympic gold of her career. The 25-year-old has also become the first American to defend gold in an individual track event since Michael Johnson’s back-to-back 400m titles in 1996 and 2000. McLaughlin-Levrone and Bol have now run 17 of the 20 fastest times in history.