In a sport where world records often stand unchallenged for decades, Sydney McLaughlin is rewriting history—one race at a time. The reigning Olympic gold medalist is proving that the only thing between her and greatness is the stopwatch.
Last Friday at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, McLaughlin pulled off the unthinkable: she broke the world record in the 400-meter hurdles for the fourth time in just two years. She blazed across the finish line in a jaw-dropping 50.68 seconds, not only securing her first world championship title but also setting a new standard for the sport.
At just 22, McLaughlin has been a rising star since her Olympic debut in Rio back in 2016. Her latest record shaved a remarkable 0.73 seconds off the previous mark—also hers—set on the same track just a month earlier.
“The time is absolutely amazing, and the sport just keeps getting faster,” she said after the race. “It’s about pushing the limits and figuring out what’s possible. I know I can keep getting better.”
Her record-breaking streak started in 2021 at the U.S. Olympic Trials, where she became the first woman to run the 400m hurdles in under 52 seconds. From there, she soared to Olympic gold in Tokyo, shattered another record at last month’s U.S. nationals, and now has the world championship crown to top it off.
Even McLaughlin admits it all feels a bit surreal. “It’s unreal,” she said, reflecting on her incredible performances. But she’s not done yet.
“My coach thinks there’s still more I can do,” she shared. “Maybe I’ll try the 400m flat or even the 100m hurdles at some point. For now, I’m just enjoying the 400 hurdles and seeing where it takes me.