In one of the most electrifying moments in track and field history, Sydney McLaughlin delivered a jaw-dropping performance at the World Athletics Championships 2022, smashing her own 400m hurdles world record in front of a roaring crowd at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
The American sensation clocked a mind-blowing 50.68 seconds, slicing nearly three-quarters of a second off her previous world record (51.41s set in 2021). With this performance, McLaughlin became the first woman to break the 51-second barrier in the event, further cementing her legacy as one of the greatest hurdlers of all time.
From the starting gun, McLaughlin was in complete command of the race, gliding over each hurdle with grace and explosive power. By the final bend, she had created an unmatchable gap, leaving her competitors in awe as she crossed the finish line with a time never before seen in women’s 400m hurdles.
“Honestly, I just wanted to run a clean race and execute each hurdle. I had no idea it would be that fast,” McLaughlin said after the race, her face lit with a mix of shock and joy. “This sport continues to surprise me. It’s a blessing to represent my country and see hard work pay off.”
The silver and bronze went to Femke Bol of the Netherlands and Dalilah Muhammad of the USA, both of whom also ran season-best times — yet still trailed far behind McLaughlin’s historic run.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe praised McLaughlin’s feat as “a defining moment not just for the championships, but for the sport as a whole.” Social media erupted with tributes, calling her performance “otherworldly” and “the greatest single-lap race ever witnessed.”
As McLaughlin stood on the podium, draped in the American flag with gold around her neck, she had not only rewritten the record books — she had redefined the limits of what’s possible in women’s athletics.
