For the second night in a row, the current world record holder in the 400 meter hurdles broke their own record to win gold in the event. This time it was American Sydney McLaughlin running a 51.46 in the final to win her first career Olympic gold medal.
McLaughlin first set the world record at the U.S. Olympic Trials running a 51.90 becoming the first woman to run under 52 seconds in the 400m hurdles.
In addition to the world record, McLaughlin also holds the collegiate record in the 400m hurdles running a 52.75 in 2018.
Fellow American Dalilah Muhammad, the world record holder prior to McLaughlin and the 2016 gold medalist in the event, took the silver medal running a 51.58 becoming the second woman ever to run under 52 seconds.
Meanwhile, 21-year-old Bol Femke of the Netherlands won the bronze running a 52.03.
The 400m hurdles final on the men’s side almost replicated the women’s race exactly. Karston Warholm, the 400m hurdle record holder, won the gold medal breaking his own world record. Rai Benjamin, the man who held the world record prior to Warholm, took home the silver medal in the event.
Each 400 meter hurdles final saw the two world record holder and previous world record holder run under the world record time set prior to the race.