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Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Sydney McLaughlin breaks own world record to earn 400m hurdles title

Sydney McLaughlin's world record-breaking race comes after Norway's Karsten Warholm also broke his own world record in the men's 400m hurdles on Tuesday; American compatriot Dalilah Muhammad took silver and Femke Bol of the Netherlands earned the bronze medal

Wednesday 4 August 2021 08:11, UK

Sydney McLaughlin clinches gold in the women's 400m hurdles
Image: Sydney McLaughlin clinches gold in the women's 400m hurdles

The USA's Sydney McLaughlin broke her own world record to clinch the 400m hurdles gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

The 21-year-old clocked 51.46 seconds having previously set a world best of 51.90secs to become the first woman to break the 52-second barrier in June.

Dalilah Muhammad was second in 51.58s - which also broke McLaughlin's previous record. The Netherlands' Femke Bol claimed bronze.

"I'm absolutely delighted. What a great race. I'm just grateful to be out here celebrating that extraordinary race and representing my country," she said.

McLaughlin broke her own world record in Tokyo
Image: McLaughlin broke her own world record in Tokyo

"I saw Dalilah ahead of me with one to go. I just thought 'run your race'.

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"The race doesn't really start until hurdle seven. I just wanted to go out there and give it everything I had.

"It's just about trusting your training, trusting your coach, and that will get you all the way around the track.

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"I can't really get it straight in my head yet. I'm sure I'll process it and celebrate later."

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McLaughlin powered through in the last 20 metres to take the title and beat defending champion Muhammad having been third on the final bend.

It came after the men's 400m hurdles on Tuesday - already labelled one of the greatest races - when Karsten Warholm broke his own world record to win in 45.94s.

He took almost a second off his previous world best of 46.70s he set in Oslo at the start of July.

The USA's Rai Benjamin (46.17s) was second with Brazil's Alison Dos Santos (46.72s) third - with both coming inside Kevin Young's long-standing previous world record of 46.78s the American set 29 years ago.