Sydney McLaughlin Wins Gold, Sets World Record in Women's 400m Hurdles at Olympics

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone set the world record on her way to winning back-to-back golds in the women's 400-meter hurdles.

The now two-time Olympic champion blew past the field in the final 100 meters on her way to setting the world-record time of 50.37 seconds.

McLaughlin-Levrone was level with her closest rival, Femke Bol of the Netherlands, through the middle of the race, but she was in a class of her own as the race hit its final stage.

Results

1. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (United States) - 50.37 seconds

2. Anna Cockrell (United States) - 51.87

3. Femke Bol (Netherlands) - 52.15

4. Jasmine Jones (United States) - 52.29

5. Rushell Clayton (Jamaica) - 52.68

6. Shiann Salmon (Jamaica) - 53.29

7. Savannah Sutherland (Canada) - 53.88

8. Louise Maraval (France) - 54.53

McLaughlin-Levrone led a fantastic overall race for Team USA.

The Americans finished in first, second and fourth. Anna Cockrell took silver in front of Femke Bol and Jasmine Jones finished one place outside of the medal podium.

McLaughlin-Levrone appeared to have some competition from Bol as she reached the halfway point, but any threat to her gold medal went away after that.

The two-time gold medalist surged in the final 200 meters to chase the new world record time and open up an advantage of over a second.

McLaughlin-Levrone became the first woman to ever repeat her gold medal triumph in the 400-meter hurdles.

Team USA has been in possession of the gold medal in the event since the 2012 London Games.

In fact, the finishing order was the same by nationality from the Tokyo and Paris Games.

An American took silver behind McLaughlin-Levrone both times and Bol came home with the bronze on both occasions.

Thursday's triumph marked the eighth gold medal and 25th overall medal in track and field at the Paris Games for Team USA.