American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone retained her Olympic 400 m hurdles title in Paris on Thursday evening, setting a new world record in 50'37. To the disappointment of the Parisians, Frenchwoman Louise Maraval came eighth and last in the final.
New Olympic title, new world record!
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone won the 400 m hurdles in 50'37 ahead of her compatriot Anna Cockrell, who beat her personal best (51'87). Dutchwoman Femke Bol took third place (52'15). Bol, who had been expected to challenge for gold, faded in the last 50 metres
It was the sixth time McLaughlin-Levrone had broken the world record, lowering her previous mark of 50.65 set at the U.S. trials in June. The crowd at the Stade de France went into a frenzy when it became clear a new all-time best was within her reach and she fittingly rang the victory bell with a glittering tiara perched on her head.
The first woman to break the 52 and 51-second barriers, McLaughlin-Levrone has been on a mission to rewrite the history books whenever she competes, turning the 400 hurdles into a marquee event - and herself into a superstar - in the process.
"Its amazing to see our sport continue to grow, for people to want to watch the 400m hurdles, it's amazing. Just a lot of hard work put in this year," she told reporters.
"I knew it was going to be a tough race. An amazing competition all the way round."
Bol, the only other woman to have cracked 51 seconds, was widely seen as McLaughlin-Levrone's closet challenger and had a large Dutch cohort in the stands on her side, but she lost steam five days after she delivered gold in the mixed relay.
McLaughlin-Levrone, the 2022 world champion, was miles ahead of the field down the final straight and she charged ahead in a thrilling race against the clock as Cockrell held on to produce a personal best in second. "I sacrificed a lot, my family has sacrificed a lot," said Cockrell. "To do this today, when it counts the most, on the biggest of stages, with my whole family here, were all over there crying our eyes out. I'm truly a talker and I have no words."
It was the fourth time in a row the United States had won the event on another big medal night for the Americans, as Grant Holloway won the men's 110 hurdles.
(L'Équipe)