"What we are watching is not normal"- Allyson Felix backs Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone for another 400m hurdles world record at Paris Olympics 2024

By Puneet Tripathi

Modified Jul 16, 2024 21:22 GMT

Track and field champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has been splendid in her performances, breaking world records for fun. Eleven-time Olympic medalist Allyson Felix is now backing her to continue her run by breaking the 400m hurdles world record at the Paris Olympics.

Felix is a highly respected athlete with 11 Olympic medals and 13 World Championship golds to her name. She competed from 2004 to 2020, showing her track and field prowess and longevity in the 100m, 200m, and 400m events.

The 38-year-old believes that McLaughlin-Levrone is a "generational talent," who is ready to showcase her quality on the Olympics stage once again. On the X (formerly Twitter) account of the NBC Olympics & Paralympics, Felix said:

"Sydney [McLaughlin-Levrone] is definitely a generational talent. You know, I think we have to realize that what we're watching is not normal. And it's very rare. I think it's hard sometimes since she makes it look so easy."

"But she's doing things that no one has ever done before and so it's always so exciting when she gets on the track."

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Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone eyes 400m hurdles gold medal at Paris Olympics 2024

Allyson Felix and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone at Tokyo Olympics 2020 (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone's set the new world record in the women's 400m hurdles at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon last month. She broke her own previous world record (set at the 2022 World Championships) by clocking a time of 50.68 seconds.

Felix added that she strongly believes in McLaughlin-Levrone's ability, and is backing her to continue her impressive streak in Paris.

"It can be challenging sometimes because you know she's racing the clock. There's no one that can compete with her. And so again in Paris, we'll be looking at Sydney and the clock, and seeing probably another world record."

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will no doubt go into the women's 400m hurdles at the Paris Olympics 2024 as the favorite to win the gold medal. But she will face tough competition from Femke Bol, and we should be in for a fascinating contest between the two.