Tokyo 2020 - USA's Sydney McLaughlin breaks her own world record to win 400m hurdle gold

ByEurosport

Updated 04/08/2021 at 05:41 GMT

Sydney McLaughlin showed exactly why she is considered the best at the 400m hurdles by emphatically beating her own world record to take gold in the final at Tokyo Olympic Stadium. It was a high quality final with silver and bronze medallists Dalilah Muhammad and Femke Bol both recording personal best times. You want it? We have it. Stream every Olympic event live on discovery+.

USA's Sydney McLaughlin has won the 400m hurdles final, smashing her own world record in a time of 51.46 seconds.

Dalilah Muhammad (USA) finished with a silver medal, recording a personal best time of 51.58 seconds.

Netherlands’ Femke Bol also produced a personal best, and a new European record, of 52.03 seconds to take bronze.

Tokyo 2020

'My son can't take medal to school now' - Kilty after Team GB 4x100m team stripped of Olympic silver

18/02/2022 at 21:49

• Olympics LIVE!
• Injury sees Van der Plaetsen plummet head first into long jump pit

McLaughlin, who was already the world record holder with a time of 51.90 recorded in Eugene, Oregon, in June, was the strong favourite entering the final and the 21-year-old delivered on that expectation.

Muhammad led for the majority of the race, but McLaughlin paced herself to perfection and stormed in front after the final barrier.

She was locked in a battle for gold with Muhammad, who did her very best to keep up.

But in the end it was McLaughlin who crossed the line in a new world record time to ensure the world record was broken in both the men’s and women’s 400m hurdles finals on consecutive days.

Sydney McLaughlin

Image credit: Getty Images

“For the second time in 24 hours, the world record in a one lap hurdles event has been blown away,” Mark Gillingham said on Eurosport commentary.

“A matter of weeks ago no woman had ever broken 52 seconds. Well at least two have done it here.

“Femke Bol what a tremendous run from her the Dutch woman, but Dalilah Muhammad really tested McLaughlin and McLaughlin had to get that run into the final barrier absolutely right.

400m hurdles men and women has been dragged into a new era.

- - -

Watch every unmissable moment live from Tokyo 2020 across Eurosport, the Eurosport app and discovery+. Download the Eurosport app for iOS and Android now.

Tokyo 2020

Team GB stripped of Tokyo 2020 4x100m relay silver medal after Ujah loses doping case

18/02/2022 at 15:55

Tokyo 2020

Athletics already has the new Bolt - it’s time to appreciate Thompson-Herah

24/12/2021 at 14:04

Tokyo 2020

Thompson-Herah and Warholm named World Athletes of the Year

02/12/2021 at 09:48