Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone says she broke her world record for the sixth time at the Olympics in Paris, citing “nothing short of God’s grace.”
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the two-time Olympic champion in the 400 meters hurdles, broke her own record for the sixth time at the Olympics in Paris, demonstrating how easy it is to shatter world records.
The 400-meter hurdles Olympic champion has redefined perfection and pushed the limits of what is possible in the sport on a regular basis.
During her appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show, McLaughlin-Levrone talked candidly about her incredible journey and credited faith and tenacity for her record-breaking performances.
“To be honest, my dream has always been to compete in track. My other dream was to compete in the Olympics. Thus, it’s nothing short of God’s blessing that I was able to break that [world] record for the sixth time in my third Olympics,” she remarked.
When McLaughlin-Levrone first broke the world record in the 400-meter hurdles in 2021 at the U.S. Olympic Trials, she did so in an incredible 51.90 seconds. That was the beginning of her dominance in the event.
The rising star started her own period of domination when she overthrew the current Olympic champion, Dalilah Muhammad.
The track star has continuously exceeded her own expectations since then. Her incredible 50.37-second run at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris broke the record once more.
The American athlete acknowledged her thankfulness and amazement at the extent of her achievements after winning in Paris.
“Oh my god. When it happens, it’s the kind of moment you dreamed about as a child and you’re like, “Oh my gosh, this is real life and just a blessing.” Extremely happy,” she said in a prior interview.
Having already broken the world record five times, McLaughlin-Levrone was the clear favorite going into the Olympics in Paris.
Femke Bol, a rising star from the Netherlands, gave her fierce competition, clocking an outstanding 50.95 seconds, giving her a strong candidate for the gold.
Bol, who finished in third place in Tokyo, was keen to show that she wasn’t far behind the American phenomenon.
Bolt was in the lead for the heats and semifinals, setting faster times than McLaughlin-Levrone.
However, McLaughlin-Levrone performed admirably once more when it came time for the finals. The American hurdler, who was competing in a dramatic race, overtook her rivals, including Bol and her own teammate Anna Cockrell, in the last 100 meters.
In a stunning 50.37 seconds, McLaughlin-Levrone set a new world record and cemented her position in history.
Bol settled for bronze with a time of 52.15 seconds, while Cockrell came in second, winning a silver medal with a personal best of 51.87 seconds. McLaughlin-Levrone not only successfully defended her Olympic championship but also set a new record for the sixth time in a race that will live in history.
But her triumph in the 400-meter hurdles wasn’t her only highlight. Moreover, McLaughlin-Levrone assisted Team USA in winning the gold in the women’s 4×400-meter relay.
Running the second leg, she set a new continental record of 3 minutes and 15.27 seconds and contributed to the Americans’ ninth consecutive Olympic victory in the event.
The group’s performance, which included Shamier Little, Gabrielle “Gabby” Thomas, and Alexis Holmes, demonstrated how dominant Americans were in the relay events.
“It’s been an incredibly crazy year,” Femke Bol says, reflecting on her stellar 2024 campaign.
Femke Bol, the gold medallist in the 400-meter hurdles at the Olympics, has taken some time to think back on the incredible 2024 track and field season.
The Dutch athlete is getting ready for some much-needed relaxation after an event-packed year full of noteworthy accomplishments, including as winning three Olympic medals and defending her Diamond League championship.
Bol, who just wrapped up her season in Brussels, Belgium, at the Diamond League championships, posted on social media about the crazy ride she’s had this year.
Just one week had passed since her season-ending race, in which she repeated as the 400-meter hurdles Diamond League champion, further solidifying her reign as the event’s dominant athlete.
Bol posted on Instagram, saying, “It’s been an absolutely crazy year full of moments I’ll cherish forever.”
The 24-year-old thanked her squad and fans while considering how she achieved so many medals and crowns.
“From world indoor champion in a world record to defending our European titles, going sub-51 on the 400 hurdles, to winning 🥇🥈🥉 at the Olympics and finishing it off as Diamond League Trophy winner in Brussels,” she continued.
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Her incredible year started off with a strong showing during the indoor season, when she won the 400-meter world indoor title and created a new world record.
What would turn out to be one of Bol’s greatest seasons ever was made possible by this early win. Her best performance came at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, where she participated for the second time.
Bol finished third in the 400m hurdles in Paris, behind American competitors Sydney McLaughlin and Anna Cockrell. Bol won a bronze medal in the event.
At which Olympocs is this true when earlier in the article you stat Sydney was 2 times OLY Champion; “Femke Bol, the gold medallist in the 400-meter hurdles at the Olympics, has taken some time to think back on the incredible 2024 track and field season.” I don’t think Usain Bolt ran in these olympics despite this sentence; Bolt was in the lead for the heats and semifinals, setting faster times than McLaughlin-Levrone.” I understand these are just mistakes, but where is the proof reader?