Sydney McLaughlin, Women’s Track and Field 400m Hurdles Olympics Qualifying Results

Tyler Conway@@jtylerconwayFeatured Columnist IVAugust 6, 2024

JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images

Sydney McLaughlin breezed her way into the 400-meter hurdles final at the 2024 Summer Olympics on Tuesday, finishing in 52.13 seconds in her semifinal heat to qualify.

McLaughlin’s time is the fastest-ever time in an Olympic semifinal. She finished 1.7 seconds ahead of second-place Louise Maraval of France in her race.

Here is a look at the eight qualifiers for the final:

Sydney McLaughlin (United States): 52.13 secondsFemke Bol (Netherlands): 52.57 secondsAnna Cockrell (United States): 52.90 secondsRushell Clayton (Jamaica): 53.00 secondsShiann Salmon (Jamaica): 53.13 secondsSavannah Sutherland (Canada): 53.80 secondsJasmine Jones (United States): 53.83 secondsLouise Maraval (France): 53.83 secondsMcLaughlin won gold in the 400-meter hurdles race at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and would be the first woman to win the event twice. There have been 11 Olympians total to medal multiple times, and only four men have multiple golds.

NBC Olympics & Paralympics @NBCOlympicsSydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s PR WITH hurdles is faster than her competitors’ PRs WITHOUT hurdles.

Yes, you read that right. #ParisOlympics

📺 NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/VqoiYSpG7T

McLaughlin would join Deon Hemmings (Jamaica) and Dalilah Muhammad (United States) as the only female multi-time medalists.

“The No. 1 goal was to come back and defend her championship,” coach Bob Kersee said. “The last time, she went in as the underdog (to American Dalilah Muhammad). This time, she’s coming in as the favorite. Sydney knows what she wants. From the first day I’ve worked with her, she’s been focused on what she wants to do as an athlete.”

McLaughlin’s biggest obstacle in winning a second straight gold is Femke Bol of the Netherlands. Bol and McLaughlin have embarked on one of the fiercest rivalries in the sport in recent years, with the pair comprising nine of the 10 best times in history.

Bol won bronze in the 2020 event and helped lead the Netherlands to a gold in the 4×400 mixed relay earlier in the Paris Games.

McLaughlin also won gold in the 4×400-meter relay in Tokyo. The United States will look to defend its title in that event on Aug. 10.