Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Eager to Take On Bigger Challenge After Putting Femke Bol in the Dust: “Always There”

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone turned 25 on August 7 and followed up her birthday with a historic performance in the 400m hurdles at the Olympics the very next day. The New Jersey native came into the Games after setting a world record in the 400m hurdles at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Once again, McLaughlin-Levrone proved her limitless potential by breaking her own world record, clocking in at 50.3s.

To put things into perspective, McLaughlin-Levrone has consistently improved the 400m hurdles world record since she first ran 51.90 seconds at the Tokyo Olympic Trials in Eugene. However, after emphatically defeating her arch-rival Femke Bol by over 10 meters, the tiara-wearing queen of the 400m hurdles has her sights set on yet another challenge for Team USA—the 4x400m relay.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has already proven herself in the event, winning gold three years ago in Tokyo. “I’m always here… If they need me,” she told the press after her incredible performance. However, despite her gold medal-winning history in the relay, the 25-year-old isn’t currently part of the women’s 4x400m relay pool, which includes Kaylyn Brown, Aaliyah Butler, Kendall Ellis, Quanera Hayes, and Alexis Holmes.

Still, it’s impossible to ignore the fact that the 3x Olympic medalist’s 50.3 is only 2.7s slower than the women’s 400m record. “I knew this was possible… When the lights come on, I come out to play,” the 3x world champion said after the final.

Yet, the same could be said for Team USA’s Anna Cockrell, who snatched away Femke Bol’s silver medal in the dying seconds of the race. However, McLaughlin-Levrone’s interest in the 4x400m relay opens up yet another opportunity to outshine her rival, Femke Bol.

Can Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone overshadow Femke Bol once again?

While the 25-year-old American may have outclassed Femke Bol in the 400m hurdles, she was among the favorites coming into the finals. Despite Bol constantly challenging McLaughlin-Levrone’s times in European and international competitions, the Dutch sprinter earned massive praise for her incredible performance during the 4x400m mixed relay.

The Dutch sprinter was the last to take the baton in the anchor leg of the 4x400m mixed relay inside Stade de France. At first, it seemed the Netherlands wouldn’t even earn a bronze medal, but Bol kicked it into high gear, overtaking the three runners ahead of her and finishing in first place. Bol’s astonishing effort dethroned the U.S. relay team, which had set a new world record just 24 hours earlier.

If Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone competes in the 4x400m relay, she’ll have a chance to once again outshine her rival’s best performance at the Paris Olympics. Whether Team USA will make a last-minute change to include the world record holder remains to be seen.