At the U.S. Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone broke a world record by running the 400-meter hurdles in just 50.65 seconds. At 24 years old, she surpassed her previous run at the 2022 world championships and became the first woman to ever break the 51-second barrier in this event.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s coach, Bobby Kersee, played a significant role in her success by making adjustments like dropping her stride count between hurdles. This strategy helped her reach new heights in the sport and break records repeatedly since she first set it in 2021. In an interview after the race, McLaughlin-Levrone expressed her gratitude towards Kersee for his guidance and support.
The victory at the Olympic trials put McLaughlin-Levrone in a commanding lead over her competitors with nearly two seconds ahead of them. Her dominance sparked discussions about breaking the 50-second barrier in the future. Hurdling legend Edwin Moses even mentioned that it could happen under her continued progress under Kersee’s guidance.
As Paris hosts the upcoming Olympics on August 8th, McLaughlin-Levrone has a chance to achieve another milestone in the 400m hurdles event. She continues to push herself and grow as an athlete, leaving many questions about how fast she can go and what other records she might break along the way.
