History repeats itself. And for the doyenne of 400m hurdles, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, tonight was just another example. In just 50.37 seconds, she achieved so much for her to be acclaimed as a dominant force. Lowering her world record for the 6th time? Check. Defending her Tokyo gold? Check. Indeed, her skills dazzle as brightly as the sheen on the stately tiara she donned after her win today.

However, when asked how she feels about this world record, McLaughlin-Levrone dug into her past and spilled the beans on one of her major setbacks. She says, “This one felt similar to trials, in terms of effort-wise.” Mind you, she was freshly coming off a 50.65 timing set at the U.S. Olympic Trials last month. But to her, “The one from 2 yrs ago hurt a lot more. Breaking that threshold was always hardest part…They all hurt, to be honest”

You must be wondering which record is she referring to? Well, at the 2022 World Championships, she had shaved off her previous timing of 51.41 by 0.73 seconds, to register a sub 51 WR. While this was McLaughlin’s 4th time lowering her world record in a span of 13 months, before her, a similar margin as this was covered in 33 years. “It was unreal,” she stated in an interview right after.

But this wasn’t only about the dip in the numbers. Clocking under 51 seconds made McLaughlin-Levrone the only woman who had broken this barrier. The American was now a trailblazer! But the tireless training for this moment must have been exacting. And this is what she points at today, how all of her world records have required substantial hard work. They may seem like a few miliseconds on the clock, but athletes put in arduous effects for these results. And so has it been with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s 25th birthday gift to herself

Today was all about inking her name in the record books for America’s hurdling sensation. A day after she celebrated her 25th birthday, McLaughlin-Levrone stepped into the 400m hurdles finals. If anything, the world was waiting for the defending Olympic champion to grace the tracks of Stade de France. Even Femke Bol. She had previously said, “I am looking forward to racing Sydney that will push us both.”

And guess what, McLaughlin-Levrone treated herself with a blazing victory. Moreover, to make the moment even more memorable, she pulled out a glitzy crown and placed it on her head. Well, why not? She is the doyenne of 400m hurdling. Especially, after this win. Today, marks the day when she becomes the only woman to win this event back-to-back at the Olympic Games.

Post her win, McLaughlin-Levrone said, “It’s a blessing. Just grateful for another opportunity, grateful to be healthy. and to come out of it in one piece. There was a lot of anticipation leading up to this race.” Well, certainly there was. Especially for her to be up against the Dutch superwoman Femke Bol, the only 2 to have clocked sub 51 timings. But as the results show, the American has reigned supreme once more!