Tokyo Olympics: Sydney McLaughlin smashes her 400m hurdles world record
The USA's Sydney McLaughlin smashed
her own world record with a sensational run as she took Olympic gold in the
women's 400m hurdles at the Tokyo Games.
McLaughlin, 21, powered down the
home straight to finish in 51.46 seconds as she shaved almost half a second off
the old mark to reel in compatriot and rival Dalilah Muhammad.
Defending Olympic champion Muhammad,
31, claimed silver with 51.58secs.
The Netherlands' Femke Bol took
bronze behind the reigning world champion.
In a race featuring five personal
bests, McLaughlin's blistering time lowered the mark she set at the US trials
in June, when she clocked 51.90secs.
"I can't really get it [the
world record] straight in my head yet. I'm sure I'll process it and celebrate
later," McLaughlin said.
"I am absolutely delighted.
What a great race."
After a near 16-year period of the
record remaining in tact, Muhammad and McLaughlin have now exchanged the world
best on four occasions in the last two years.
McLaughlin superbly judged her
effort in chasing down Rio 2016 champion Muhammad, who set the early pace and
still held a slim advantage over the final hurdle.
"The race doesn't really start
until hurdle seven. I just wanted to go out there and give it everything I
had," added McLaughlin.
"I am grateful to be out here celebrating
that extraordinary race and representing my country. I saw Dalilah ahead of me
with one to go. I just thought, 'run your race'.