TOKYO — Sydney McLaughlin broke her world record Wednesday and won the Olympic 400-meter hurdles gold medal, finishing in 51.46 seconds in yet another close victory over rival Dalilah Muhammad.
McLaughlin came from behind over the last 100 meters to top the defending Olympic champion. Muhammad’s time of of 51.58 also beat McLaughlin’s old record of 51.90, set at the Olympic trials last month.
McLaughlin and Muhammad have been trading the world record — and wins — for two years now. Muhammad first broke the mark at the U.S. Nationals in 2019, then lowered it again to 52.