Sydney McLaughlin Breaks World Record Win 400-Meter Hurdles

Save

Sydney McLaughlin has just won her first gold medal in the women’s 400-meter hurdles at the Tokyo Olympics whilst also setting a new world record at the event. The athlete finished in 51.46 seconds in a marginally close victory over her Team USA teammate Dalila Muhammad.

Both competitors came out of the race with considerable feats, both breaking McLaughlin’s old record of 51.9 seconds. Muhammad finished in 51.58 seconds, taking the silver medal. Netherland’s Femke Bol finished in third place. Though an amazing feat, the records were not a surprise as both McLaughlin and Muhammad have traded records and wins for the past two years. Muhammad first broke the record at the 2019 U.S. Nationals and then again at the Doha championships. Later at the Olympic trials this summer, McLaughlin broke the record, becoming the first woman to crack 52 seconds.

Muhammad held the lead from the beginning, but McLaughlin slowly caught up to her teammate in the final 100 meters. With a close victory margin of .12 seconds, the race nearly ended in a draw. Muhammad won a gold medal for the event in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and now McLaughlin has taken the gold at the Tokyo Olympics.

HER GOLDEN MOMENT!@GoSydGo takes the gold in world record fashion in the women’s 400m hurdles final! #TokyoOlympics x @TeamUSA
📺: NBC
💻: https://t.co/xHOJq5UwlD
📱: NBC Sports App pic.twitter.com/xFGFzaW6Gu
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 4, 2021

World record holdin’ and Olympic gold medal winnin’ Sydney McLaughlin. @GoSydGo x #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/Z7WxDioM8W
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) August 4, 2021