Tokyo (AFP)
At the end of a new epic duel, the American Sydney McLaughlin smashed her own world record in the 400m hurdles to win her first Olympic title on Wednesday in Tokyo, while Kevin Mayer, injured in the back, is in great pain in the decathlon .
In 51 sec 46 of a new splendid race, McLaughlin ridiculed her successful 51 sec 90 at the end of June in front of her great rival and compatriot Dalilah Muhammad (51 sec 58), also well below the old record, and the Dutchwoman Femke Bol ( 52 sec 03), 3rd performer in history.
All the day after the feat of the Norwegian Karsten Warholm on the same distance.
This is the third world record for these Olympic Games in athletics after the Venezuelan Yulimar Rojas in the triple jump (15.67 m) and Warholm over 400 m hurdles (45 sec 94).
Meanwhile, the French clan tremble as world decathlon record holder Kevin Mayer tearfully confessed to having his "back blocked".
After three events (4th at 304 points from the lead), he seems already behind for gold.
"I have very little feeling, little pleasure, but I think I can go for a medal even like that," he said.
- "Thrilla in Manila" -
Bob Kersee, McLaughlin's veteran coach at the University of California (UCLA), enjoys hopping around the track summoning big boxing fights, like Mohamed Ali's "Thrilla in Manila" against Joe Frazier in 1975. He had found "The Queen of Eugene" for the world record in June from McLaughlin in Oregon.
We now suggest "The Hero of Tokyo" to him.
As in a ring, McLaughlin and Muhammad have been giving each other blow for blow for two years and ended up taking their discipline into another dimension, a perfect mirror of the Warholm-Benjamin duel and their crazy lap times in Japan the day before.
The Olympic 400m hurdles champion Sydney Mclaughlin, August 4, 2021 at the Tokyo Games Ina FASSBENDER AFP
The old record of the Russian Yulia Pechonkina (52.34 in 2003) had held 16 years until the two phenomena appropriated the distance.
Muhammad (31) had run in 52 sec 20 in July 2019, before dominating his younger sister in one of the most beautiful races of the Doha Worlds in October 2019, in 52 sec 16 against 52 sec 23.
In just over a month, McLaughlin has taken revenge by stealing the world record and the Olympic title (Muhammad had won in Rio), but immediately embraced his rival after the race on Wednesday.
An expected consecration for one of the purest talents in athletics.
- Soon 22 years old -
The native of New Brunswick (New Jersey) was already the junior world champion in 2015 at 15 against opponents two years older, before progressing steadily.
Three days before turning 22, "GoSydGo" (his nickname on social networks) saw Muhammad go like a ball but caught up, hurdle after hurdle, to force the decision in the last 40 meters.
In the suffocating Olympic stadium (around 33 degrees and 60% humidity), the lap times never stop getting hot on races ranging from 100 to 800 m.
A performance boom surely due to the appearance for several months of "new generation" shoes on short distances, in the wake of what has happened in middle distance for two years and on the road for five years, and perfectly exploited by athletes at their peak for the event of a lifetime.
American Sydney Mclaughlin (top) during the 400m hurdles final on August 4, 2021 at the Tokyo Olympics Antonin THUILLIER AFP
The face of her equipment manufacturer and enthusiast of photo shoots, Sydney McLaughlin seems poised for glory.
She already rubs shoulders with the great history of her sport on a daily basis, in training with Allyson Felix, legendary sports figure (nine Olympic medals) and spearhead of the recognition of sportswomen who have become mothers.
Felix is expected in the 400m semi-final in the evening.
© 2021 AFP