24-year-old Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is readying for the Paris Games by setting a world-leading time of 52.70 seconds in her first 400-meter hurdles race in over a year. The world record holder in the event, McLaughlin-Levrone last competed in August 2022 before showcasing her skills at the Edwin Moses Classic in Atlanta.
Despite having not much hurdle practice recently, McLaughlin-Levrone effortlessly surpassed Jamaican Rushell Clayton’s previous season-best time of 53.72 by over a second during the race. After her impressive performance, she acknowledged that she is still working on shaking off any rust and improving her technique. She mentioned that there are things she can work on to perform even better in the future.
Due to a knee injury, McLaughlin-Levrone missed the World Championships last year, but she has been focusing on competitions in the United States in preparation for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Despite her love for racing in Europe, she has chosen to stay in the U.S. this year to prioritize her health and safety. She emphasized that travel can be physically demanding, and she wants to ensure she is in the best shape possible for the upcoming trials.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s success comes as no surprise as she has always been known for her impressive athleticism and dedication towards her sport. Her world record time of 52 seconds is a testament to her hard work and determination, and it sets high expectations for what we can expect from her during the Paris Games.
The Paris Games will take place from July 21st to August 7th, with track and field events set to begin on July 30th. The competition promises to be intense, with many top athletes from around the world vying for glory.
In conclusion, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is well on track to defend her Olympic title at this year’s Paris Games after setting a new world record time of 52 seconds in an exhibition race last week.
