© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WECS · WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM · WVOF
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone smashes her world record in 400m hurdles, wins Olympic gold

USA's Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone easily won gold in the women's 400m hurdles at the Paris Olympics on Thursday. She also broke her own world record at Stade de France.
Elsa
/
Getty Images
USA's Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone easily won gold in the women's 400m hurdles at the Paris Olympics on Thursday. She also broke her own world record at Stade de France.

NPR is in Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics. For more of our coverage from the Games head to our latest updates.


SAINT-DENIS, France — After crossing the finish line, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone — the defending gold medalist in the 400-meter hurdles — dashed across the purple track, wrapped herself in the American flag and donned a tiara, showing the world that she still reigns.

McLaughlin-Levrone broke her own world record in the event on her way to gold on Thursday, finishing a very comfortable 1.5 seconds ahead of the competition.

She cleared the 10 hurdles in 50.37 seconds, shaving an incredible 0.28 seconds off her world record time that she only just set in June at the national Olympic track trials. Along the way, she demolished the Olympic record 51.46 (hers again).

Fellow American Anna Cockrell earned silver with a personal best of 51.87 seconds, trimming her best time by nearly a second. Dutch hurdler Femke Bol, who was McLaughlin-Levrone’s top challenger going into the race, finished with bronze — for the second Summer Games in a row.

The 25-year-old started her Olympics journey in Rio de Janeiro eight years ago and in Tokyo earned a gold medal in 400-meter hurdles — when she also set the previous Olympic record — and another in the 4x400-meter relay.

The race on Thursday night was her sixth time setting a world record in the event. Before McLaughlin-Levrone came on the scene, it took hurdlers years to take fractions of a second off records.

Back in June at the trials, she said it was her goal to dip under 50 seconds at some point.

Of her performance at the Paris Olympics, she said, “Overall it was a pretty good race. There are a few things that I feel I could have cleaned up. But when you're in the moment you're not really thinking about all of that.”

"When I crossed that line I was grateful," she said after the race, but added: "I was hoping it was a little faster."

USA's Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone crosses the finish 1.5 seconds ahead of her teammate and silver medalist Anna Cockrell in the women's 400m hurdles final. McLaughlin-Levrone eclipsed her own world record during the gold medal run at the Paris Olympics on Thursday.
Jewel Samad / AFP via Getty Images
/
AFP via Getty Images
USA's Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone crosses the finish 1.5 seconds ahead of her teammate and silver medalist Anna Cockrell in the women's 400m hurdles final. McLaughlin-Levrone eclipsed her own world record during the gold medal run at the Paris Olympics on Thursday.


Copyright 2024 NPR

Loading...

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Related Content