American hurdler Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone produced a world record-breaking performance to become the first woman in history to win back-to-back Olympic 400m hurdles titles on Thursday. The 25-year-old outperformed reigning world champion Femke Bol of the Netherlands to win gold in 50.37 seconds at the Stade de France. Anna Cockrell of the United States won silver in 51.87 seconds, while Bol finished third in 52.15 seconds.

The winning time surpassed McLaughlin-Levrone’s own world record of 50.65 seconds, achieved at the US Olympic trials in Eugene in June. The triumph extended McLaughlin-Levrone’s incredible five-year unbeaten streak in the discipline and secured her place as the best female 400m hurdler of all time. An elated McLaughlin-Levrone said afterward she had simply focused on the 10 hurdles in front of her and revealed she was now targeting breaking the 50-second barrier.

Every race is against 10 hurdles. Obviously, there are people next to you who are going to push you, but it doesn’t matter if you don’t focus on the barriers in front of you, the American told reporters. So that was my focus – me trying to be as efficient as I could over those 10 hurdles and trying to lower that time every time. There was a lot of anticipation leading up to this race specifically, rightfully so. But you channel those nerves into excitement, she added.

Bol had been yearning for his first victory over McLaughlin-Levrone after finishing third in the Tokyo Olympics three years ago and second behind the American at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon in 2022. But McLaughlin-Levrone, who was unable to compete in last year’s Budapest World Championships due to injury, would not be denied.

McLaughlin-Levrone, who was drawn in lane five with Bol outside, rapidly made advances on the Dutchwoman who flew out of the blocks. Just beyond the 200m mark, the American star made her move, blasting past Bol and into the finish straight with a clear lead.

With Bol fading and Cockrell passing her, McLaughlin-Levrone faced a battle against the clock, and she pushed hard over the closing meters to break her own world mark. McLaughlin-Levrone basked in the crowd’s adoration following another stunning performance, and she was soon covered in a US flag and donning a beautiful tiara as she toasted her admirers.

Bol, meanwhile, appeared distraught as she crossed the finish line, hitting herself in disgust. Later the Dutchwoman said she had “screwed it up”.