Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone destroyed Femke Bol in what was expected to be a fierce showdown in the 400-meter hurdles at the Paris Olympics, breaking her own world record.
McLaughlin-Levrone clocked 50.37 seconds, followed by fellow American Anna Cockrell (51.87). Bol finished third in 52.15.
McLaughlin-Levrone has not lost since the 2019 world championships.
Her aura of invincibility generated hope for a rival to make things interesting.
Enter Bol, who emerged as McLaughlin-Levrone’s biggest threat.
The two had only raced twice before the Paris final ― in the 2021 Olympics final and the 2022 World Championships. McLaughlin-Levrone won both handily in world record time.
Then the Dutch hurdler broke through with a 2023 world championship in McLaughlin-Levrone’s absence. She also closed to within 0.3 seconds of McLaughlin-Levrone’s 50.65 world record just before Paris.
At the Paris Games, Bol showed off her flat speed with an astonishing 47.93 anchor leg to stun the Americans in the mixed 4×400 relay, earning the Netherlands Olympic gold.
That heightened expectations for a tight battle.
McLaughlin-Levrone was just too fast.
