“Been growing as a person and…an athlete,” Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone THANKS Bobby Kersee after clinching Olympic berth with 400m Hurdles World Record

American hurdler and sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone sets new hurdles world record with 400m dash at US trials for Paris Olympics.

“Been growing as a person and…an athlete,” Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone THANKS Bobby Kersee after clinching Olympic berth with 400m Hurdles World Record

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone [Image Credit: Imago]

Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone renews “childhood dream” by breaking 400m hurdles world record at US Trials 2024. The 24-year-old sealed her Paris Olympics fate with 50.65 seconds Sunday dash, 0.03 seconds faster than her previous record.

She thanked her coach Bobby Kersee who sparked her move over to 14 strides between the early hurdles. The new set of rules proved to be a game changer as the American set her first record in 2021 in Eugene followed by the 2022 world championships at Hayward. 

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The defending Olympic champion eased her way through 10 barriers during her latest race, finishing with a dead sprint to break the record for the fifth time. She noted, “I’m blessed and happy to be here”, crediting coach Bobby Kersee for everything.

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I’ve been growing as a person and growing as an athlete. He challenges me and pushes me in ways I didn’t think were possible.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone as per NY Post.

Levrone’s Sunday race pushed back Anna Cockrell by 1.99 seconds and Jasmine Jones by 2.12 seconds. Her record is a trace of her changes in training on shorter hurdles with 200m and 400m sprints, helping her master the art of jumping off either foot. Cockrell commented, “She’s really fast and she’s really strong” following her US trials victory.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone admits ‘not expecting’ to break own 400m World Record at US Trials 2024

Not only the world but the American sprinter herself admitted not expecting such astonishing results in her fifth attempt on Sunday. Edwin Moses believes it’ll take a couple more races for Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone to tumble down the 50-second mark.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone [Image Credit: Imago]
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone [Image Credit: Imago]

She said, “Honestly, praise god” as the 24-year-old was “not expecting that” at the 2024 US trials. McLaughlin-Levrone further expressed, 

Just shock. Honestly shock. I know when it first came up it said, ‘50.67.’ I was like, ‘There’s just no way.’
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone as per Eddie Pells of Associated Press.

2016 Olympic champion Daliah Muhammad highly praised McLaughlin-Levrone saying she’s “a generational talent” and “we’re not even shocked at this point.” As per reports, Muhammad is considered the key person who instigated the 24-year-old’s move to coach Bobby Kersee after the 2019 world championship race. 

Fans can’t wait for the Olympics finals in Paris, expected on August 8 as controversies and expectations brew over the 50-second mark tumbling down. The initial noise over McLaughlin-Levrone vs. Femke Bol has now turned into one of the hottest topics of the 2024 Olympics.

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