One of the most anticipated track and field matchups at the 2024 Paris Olympics was the women’s 400-meter hurdles between Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of the United States and Femke Boll of the Netherlands. McLaughlin-Levrone entered the event as the reigning Olympic champion and world record holder, while Boll had won the 2023 world title (McLaughlin-Levrone sat out due to injury) and was also the second-fastest athlete of all time.
It wasn’t even a competition.
In the final 150 meters, McLaughlin-Levrone left Boll and the others behind, making it look like she was in a lane with no 30-inch obstacles at all. She crossed the line in an astounding 50.37 seconds, shaving nearly three-tenths of a second off the previous world record.
Boll, who won gold in the mixed 4x400m relay in a stunning upset to beat the United States, surprisingly finished with bronze behind Anna Cockrell of the United States, who ran a personal best of 51.87 seconds, the fourth fastest time in history.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s dominance in the event is unparalleled: Her last six championship races, both U.S. and world, have all been world record victories.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s individual world record progress
2020 U.S. Olympic Trials (held in 2021) – 51.90 seconds (previous record: 52.16 seconds by Dalilah Muhammad)
2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021) – 51.46 seconds
2022 US World Championship Qualifiers – 51.41 seconds
2022 World Championships – 50.68 seconds
2024 U.S. Olympic Selection – 50.65 seconds
2024 Paris Olympics – 50.37 seconds
Sydney’s last loss in the 400m hurdles was at the world championships in 2019. Muhammad improved her time from 52.20 to 52.16 seconds. Russia’s Yulia Pecheonkina held the world record of 52.34 seconds from 2003 to 2019, but McLaughlin-Levrone nearly beat that mark. 2 seconds Over the past five years.
McLaughlin-Levrone is set to compete in the 4×400-meter relay, anchoring the U.S. team that won gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 World Championships in Eugene.
Unfortunately, a 400m flat and 400m hurdles double at a major championship is unthinkable, but with McLaughlin-Levrone’s flat personal best of 48.74 seconds, it’s hard not to think of her at least making the switch at some point. Clearly, there is no one who can match her in the 400m hurdles, she is the GOAT.
