'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
"Everything went numb" - When Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone opened up about her emotions after avenging 2019 World Championships loss to Dalilah Muhammad
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone broke the world record in the 400m hurdles for the first time at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials, clocking 51.90s to avenge her 2019 World Championships loss to compatriot Dalilah Muhammad, who was also the former record holder in the event.
McLaughlin-Levrone turned professional in 2018 and won a silver medal at the 2019 World Championships after losing in a close race to Dalilah Muhammad, who clocked a world record time of 54.16s. The New Jerseyan fumbled slightly at the final hurdle and settled for second in 52.23s.
The 25-year-old was heartbroken by the loss, and after two years of waiting, she avenged the defeat at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials. McLaughlin-Levrone clocked a blistering 51.90s for the new world record in the event while Muhammed came home second in 52.42s. However, just before crossing the finish line, the four-time Olympic champion went numb.
"By the time we cleared the final hurdle, I was ahead. I pulled every ounce of energy I had for the final sprint to the finish line. As I approached it, everything went numb," she wrote in her 2024 memoir 'Far Beyond Gold: Running From Fear to Faith'.
McLaughlin-Levrone explained that she was reminded of her struggles after losing to Muhammad and after watching her world record time, the 25-year-old was on cloud nine.
"I wasn’t thinking about the pain; I was thinking about all the trials I had endured since my last major race. How long I had waited for this moment. This was it. I glanced to my left. As I crossed the finish line, I watched the clock stop at 51.90. Oh. My. Goodness. I just broke the 52-second barrier for the first time in history," Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone added.
The two would face off again in the 400m hurdles finals at the Tokyo Olympics, with McLaughlin-Levrone yet again clocking a world record time for the win while Muhammed finished second despite clocking a lifetime best of 51.58s.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone 'grateful' to Dalilah Muhammad for pushing her towards the world record
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone had been losing to Dalihal Muhammed in the major races continuously since their first faceoff at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials and after beating her at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials, she acknowledged that the Rio Olympic champion had pushed her to become better and faster.
"As soon as I crossed the finish line, I put my hands on my head and then crouched, overcome with emotion, my hand over my mouth. Dalilah walked over to me and put her hand out to congratulate me. I shook it, grateful to her for pushing me to it. It was encouraging to have good sportsmanship, especially between women," she wrote in her memoir.
The pair have competed against each other 13 times with McLaughlin-Levrone leading the head-to-head record 7-6. She has defeated the former world record holder in every race after the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials.
Trending
