A generational hurdler set herself apart from the rest of the sport at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Thursday as the United States' Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone broke her own world record while becoming the first woman in history to win two gold medals in the 400-meter hurdles. McLaughlin-Levrone destroyed her prior record crossing the finish line in 50.37 seconds, a full 1.5 seconds clear of the field and nearly 1.8 seconds seconds faster than the previous record holder.
American Anna Cockrell took silver in the race, her first Olympic medal.
McLaughlin-Levrone also became the first track athlete in history to break six world records in the same event. She beat her prior mark, set at the U.S. Track & Field Team Trials in June, by 0.28 seconds in Paris.
In addition to becoming the first to win two gold medals in the 400-meter hurdles, McLaughlin-Levrone was also the first to do so in consecutive Olympics after finishing first in the 2020 Summer Games. In Tokyo, she turned in a time of 51.46 seconds to land atop the podium in the event.
McLaughlin-Levrone has had a knack for breaking her own world records in recent years. She has done so six times in the last three years, according to World Athletics.
McLaughlin-Levrone's record-setting performances
| Date | Time |
|---|---|
June 27, 2021 | 50.91 |
August 4, 2021 (Tokyo Olympics) | 51.46 |
June 25, 2022 | 51.41 |
July 22, 2022 | 50.68 |
June 30, 2024 | 50.65 |
August 8, 2024 (Paris Olympics) | 50.37 |
McLaughlin-Levrone also won gold medals at IAAF World Athletics Championships in 2019 and 2022 in both the 400-meter hurdles and 4x400 relay.