Such a women’s race over 400 meters has not existed in athletics forever. The American Sydney McLaughlin-Levron had Marita Koch’s ancient world record shaken during her World Cup title in Tokyo.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levron could not believe it himself. With the last strength, the American had dragged herself over 400 meters to the finish in the final, looked directly at the clock next to the career in the nation stadium in Tokyo and was surprised at the number there. With 47.78 seconds, the 26-year-old set a World Cup record, a personal best time, the world year best and a national record-and she ran the second fastest time in history.
No woman had run under 48 seconds since 1985
Almost exactly 40 years ago, Marita Koch had just run faster in 47.60 seconds, it is currently the second oldest world record in athletics. In addition to Koch, only Jarmila Kratochvilova, who holds the oldest record over 800 meters, remained below the 48-second mark in 47.99 seconds-the louder was the Donnerhall, which McLaughlin-Levron spent in Tokyo.
Already in the semifinals, the 26-year-old had indicated in 48.29 seconds in which direction it should go in the final, because she took it easy for the last 30 meters to take it easy and gave away a few tenths of a second.
Paulino runs the third best time in history
She couldn’t do that in the finals, because despite her fable period, she actually had a real competitor who shouldn’t believe that she did not win gold despite her performance. Marileidy Paulino from the Dominican Republic ran the third best time of history in 47.98 seconds.
McLaughlin-Levron Has only recently switched
What makes the story about McLaughlin-Levron even more alien: it recently specialized in the 400 meter “flat”. Last year she had a fabulous world record on the hurdle route at the Olympic Games in Paris. So far not even top runner Femke Bol has come to her 50.37 seconds. Most 400-meter runners don’t even reach the time that McLaughlin Levron ran with hurdles.
Koch actually had to worry about her world record after 40 years – and she will have to continue in the next few years. McLaughlin-Levron is an exceptional runner that has never existed on the longer short distance. But she is still gaining experience, even in the final there were small weaknesses in timing, at the last few meters she almost went out. There is a lot of indication that it continues to increase. But McLaughlin-Levron is already shocking the world athletics in the best sense.