Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone maintains that her biggest challenge in any race is not the competitors, but the 10 hurdles that line the track. These days, those hurdles seem to pose no issue; her true competition is the clock.
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McLaughlin-Levrone
On Thursday night, she once again shattered her own world record, finishing the 400-meter hurdles in an impressive 50.37 seconds to defend her Olympic title. The 25-year-old American has now set the world record six times. She took the lead around the bend and sprinted down the home stretch, finishing 1.50 seconds ahead of teammate Anna Cockrell.
“Of course, there are competitors next to you who will push you, but it’s all about not getting distracted by the barriers ahead,” McLaughlin-Levrone explained. “I focused on being as efficient as possible over my 10 hurdles, aiming to lower my time with each race.”
She previously set the old record of 50.65 seconds on June 30 at the U.S. Olympic trials. This race was highly anticipated, especially due to the rivalry between McLaughlin-Levrone and Femke Bol of the Netherlands. However, it was Cockrell who surprised everyone, while Bol finished in third place, visibly disappointed.
“I messed it up,” Bol admitted. “I felt a surge of lactic acid with 300 meters to go and have no explanation for it. It was just a bad race.”
After crossing the finish line, McLaughlin-Levrone glanced at the scoreboard and smiled. She makes breaking records look effortless.
“I’m still looking to improve,” she said, noting that she’s getting closer to achieving a perfect race and breaking into the 49-second mark.
“It’s all about building the capacity in my legs to sustain that speed,” added McLaughlin-Levrone, who married former NFL player Andre Levrone Jr. in 2022.
She now holds a 3-0 record against Bol, having previously beaten her at the Tokyo Games in 2021 and again at the world championships in Oregon. McLaughlin-Levrone missed last season’s championships in Budapest due to injury, allowing Bol to claim her first world title.
After the race, McLaughlin-Levrone offered Bol a comforting hug and encouraging words, saying, “You are amazing. You’ve only just started hurdling, and you’re doing great.”
Cockrell also impressed, setting a new personal best by 0.77 seconds.
“I’ve always considered myself a showtime girl,” Cockrell said. “When the lights come on, I come out to play.”
Under the guidance of coach Bobby Kersee, McLaughlin-Levrone has been preparing for this moment for two years, often in the background. She’s competed in 200 and 400-meter sprints, as well as shorter hurdles, to enhance her speed and technique.
Her hard work culminated in another record-breaking performance in front of a packed stadium.
“I knew this was possible,” said McLaughlin-Levrone, who celebrated her birthday the day before. “I anticipated that a world record would be needed to win this race.”
Afterward, she celebrated by parading around the track wearing a tiara that her sister-in-law had brought for her.
“I just hoped it would be a race worthy of holding this tiara up,” McLaughlin-Levrone joked.
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