After sailing through her first two races at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone hopes to wish herself a happy belated birthday when she aims to defend her title in the women's 400m hurdles final on Thursday.
McLaughlin-Levrone, who turned 25 a day ago, is one of the favorites for the podium - along with Femke Bol, the Paris gold medalist in 4×400m mixed relay from the Netherlands, and Jamaica's Rushell Clayton. Americans Jasmine Jones and Anna Cockrell also have a shot at the medal after all of them got through the semifinal.
Looking to defend her Tokyo gold medal and world record, the New Jersey native, McLaughlin-Levrone earlier cruised through her second women's 400m hurdles race, appearing to not put in 100%. Still, she had the fastest time (52.13) out of everyone who advanced.
The two-time gold medalist is also expected to defend her medal in the women's 4x400m relay as well.
McLaughlin-Levrone keeps pushing herself and the competition to new heights. At the Olympic Trials in Oregon in June, she set a new world record of 50.65 seconds in the women's 400m hurdles, her premiere event.
Get Tri-state area news delivered to your inbox. Sign up for NBC New York's News Headlines newsletter.
She first made her Olympic debut in Rio 2016 at the age of 17, the youngest U.S. Olympian in track and field since 1972. She lost in the semifinals that year.
Paris 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics
Watch all the action from the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games live on Peacock
Sydney McLaughlin's Olympics schedule 2024
| Event | Day | Time | How to Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 400m hurdles final | Thursday, Aug. 8 | 3:25 p.m. ET/12:25 a.m. PT | Peacock, NBCOlympics.com |
| Women's 4x400m relay round 1 | Friday, Aug. 9 | 4:40 a.m. ET/1:40 a.m. PT | Peacock, NBCOlympics.com |
| Women's 4x400m relay final | Saturday, Aug. 10 | 3:14 p.m. ET/12:14 p.m. | Peacock, NBCOlympics.com |
