Justin Gatlin believes Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is like the late Kobe Bryant

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone channels Kobe Bryant's mentality and will not stop until she breaks 50-sec barrier in 400mH, believes Justin Gatlin

Modified Aug 18, 2024 17:14 GMT

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone was in a class of her own at the Paris Olympic Games when she broke the world record in a time of 50.37 seconds to win the 400m hurdles event. Justin Gatlin has now become one of the many who have lauded the world record-holder on the achievement, noting that she is not stopping anytime soon as she follows in the footsteps of the late Kobe Bryant.

Competing on the Olympic stage, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone oozed class as she started her campaign with a win in the heats, clocking 53.60s to cross the finish line. The American went on to win the semifinal in a time of 52.13s.

The three-time world champion threw down the gauntlet in the final as she shattered her world record for the sixth time. Anna Cockrell and Femke Bol finished second and third in respective times of 51.87 seconds and 52.15 seconds.

Speaking on his Ready Set Go podcast, Gatlin lauded McLaughlin-Levrone as one of the greatest. The 2004 Olympic 100m champion further stated his belief that McLaughlin-Levrone will not stop until she dips under the 50-second barrier.

"Mentally and emotionally, she is a warrior. Afterwards, as I watched her, she did not necessarily want to put that crown on her head. She takes a page out of Kobe's book. The job's not done. I think until she breaks 50, the 50 barriers, she's like, job's not done. This is my lane. This is my era. This is my domain. Until I say it's done, it ain't done," Gatlin said.

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McLaughlin-Levrone then played an instrumental role for Team USA in the women’s 4x400m relay, as they took the gold medal in an American record time of 3:15.30.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone reacts to breaking world record at Paris Olympics

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone opened up about her emotions after winning the Olympic gold medal in the 400m hurdles and successfully defending her title.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Olympics.com, the 25-year-old noted that she has yet to fully comprehend how she managed to break the world record as she enjoyed her moment of greatness.

"It hasn't really fully hit me yet. Blessed, honestly. And excited. It's a surreal moment. But now an amazing, amazing opportunity. And I'm grateful," McLaughlin-Levrone said.

She added:

"You never really know what's going on. It's really just running all the way through the line. I did get a quick glance at the clock, so I was like, 'Just get over this last hurdle and sprint through the line.’ It's just like we've practised a million times."

McLaughlin-Levrone had struggled with injuries in recent times and seeing the American bouncing back to become the first woman to defend her Olympic title in the women’s 400m hurdles understandably left many stunned.

She sealed her ticket to the Olympic Games courtesy of her majestic run at the U.S. Olympic trials, where she clocked a stunning then-world record time of 50.65s to win the final of the women’s 400m hurdles.