A lot can change in five years, especially for Sydney McLaughlin. Five years ago in the U.S. Olympic track and field trials, McLaughlin was a high-school student trying to prove she belonged, and that couldn’t contrast more from her this past weekend. In one of the most highly-anticipated matchups of this year’s Olympic trials, McLaughlin smashed the world record and slipped past reigning world champion Dalilah Muhammad to win the women’s 400-meter hurdles with a time of 51.90.
“It’s an honor,” McLaughlin said of breaking the previous mark, set by Muhammad in 2019. “So many amazing women have come before me. So many amazing women will come after me. I just want to be able to leave my mark, and be a part of such an amazing sport.”
To round out Team USA, Muhammad, the reigning world champion in the event finished second (52.42). Anna Cockrell came in third. This success comes off of a decision last summer, as McLaughlin switched coaches and began working with legendary coach Bobby Kersee, whose training group also includes Allyson Felix.
Kersee had McLaughlin compete in the 60-meter hurdles at an indoor meet, then the 100-meter hurdles outdoors, continuing to hone her technique before moving back to her natural distance. “A lot of people didn’t understand, because they didn’t see where it was translating to in our practices for the 400 hurdles,” McLaughlin said. “I kind of knew right away it was making sense. And as time progressed and the strength started to build, it definitely reflected that we could get to this point.”
Last weekend was a crowning moment for McLaughlin, who has gone from high-school prodigy to collegiate All-American to World Championship silver medalist in the span of four years. She was widely regarded as one of the most promising high school track and field athletes ever when she arrived at the 2016 Olympic trials. She qualified for the Olympics when she was just 16, but failed to make the final in Rio. McLaughlin is surely hoping things will be different this time around.
