by Sam Fariss
Sydney McLaughlin, photo by @TaFphoto / Randy Miyazaki
McLaughlin comes from behind to earn Olympic gold
By Sam Fariss for RunBlogRun
TOKYO – Sydney McLaughlin, edged by fellow Team USA hurdler, Dalilah Muhammad, to earn the first Olympic gold medal of her career. The pair both crossed the finish line under the previous world record which had been 51.90 seconds, Muhammad being the previous world record holder before McLaughlin broke it in June.
Talk about a race that delivers! Dalilah Muhammed lead until 380m, as @gosydgo went all out to win, in 51.46 WR to 51.58 for Muhammed, and 52.03 for Femke Bol! photos by K. Camara, @usatf, @euroathletics, @euroathletics, @stuartweir, @britathletics, @athleticsafrica, @justinlagat pic.twitter.com/CCnCpcFMGK
— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) August 4, 2021
Muhammad came out of the blocks and grabbed a demanding lead over her competitors. However, in the home stretch of the lap McLaughlin came from behind to finish in just 51.46 seconds, breaking her own world record that she set at the Olympic Trials.
Following her victory McLaughlin spoke about what an honor it was to earn this gold.
“Let me start off by saying, what and honor it is to be able to represent not only my country, but also the kingdom of God,” McLaughlin shared over an Instagram post.
This is “iron sharpening iron” as @Gosydgo noted. Dalilah Muhammed, @rio2016 defended her title until the last 20 meters, when Sydney took the lead and win, 51.46 WR to 51.58. Femke Bol set @euroathletics record 52.03 in bronze! photos: K. Camara, @usatf, @tokyo2020, @stuartweir pic.twitter.com/VN1pf29Pns
— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) August 4, 2021
McLaughlin has been extremely vocal about her faith, often sharing how she would not be able to do what she does without God in her life.
The 21-year old McLaughlin has been battling the 31-year-old Muhammad since the 2019 World Championships when Muhammad was able to hold her off. The races between the two of them have always been a toss up, especially this one. They were both at full strength coming into Tokyo and it was truly anybody’s race.
What a W400m hurdles! Dalilah Muhammed pushes @GoSydo to the last 50, as Sydney McLaughlin leans at the finish, takes gold in WR 51.46. Dalilah Muhammed, @rio2016 gold is silver in @tokyo2020, in 51.58! Femke Bol takes bronze, with ER 52.03! #tokyoolympics, @usatf, @euroathletics pic.twitter.com/QkSBgSWeU8
— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) August 4, 2021
“You have such an amazing field of women. The more we race each other, anything is possible. It’s completely limitless,” McLaughlin said.
With her second place finish, Muhammad adds to her gold medals from the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2019 World Championships.
“Every question is going to be, ‘Am I happy or am I unhappy with silver?” Muhammad said. “But that’s not how I feel at all. I’ve had an amazing year and to finish with 51.5, shattering my personal best, is absolutely amazing.”
