Sydney McLaughlin opened her 400m hurdle season on Sunday with the American Track League event, in Nashville. Prior to this event, she had only run once this season, winning the 100m hurdles at the 2022 Penn Relays in Philadelphia.

And as expected of the 22-year-old hurdling star, she won again with an astonishing record.

Sydney McLaughlin runs another record-making race

In Nashville, McLaughlin ran a smashing 51.61 seconds, her second-fastest time, just 0.15 off her record, and third on the world all-time list. For reference, at the same event, the 400m flat race was won in 51.84 seconds. 

What’s incredible is she posted this time even after switching legs and stutter-stepping three of the ten hurdles. In the second place, Jamaica’s Andrenette Knight ran a personal best of 53.39, while Olympic finalist Gianna Woodruff of Panama took third in 54.63. 

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However, there is some uncertainty on whether McLaughlin’s record will go down as a legal time as there was a positioning error in two hurdles. Perhaps this was the reason for her stutter-stepping, and this could have been a new record?

Last summer McLaughlin set the record for the fastest 400m hurdle time at 51.46 at the Tokyo Olympics. If her Nashville record is valid, McLaughlin owns the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 8th spot on the all-time list. She now holds 3 of the only 4 sub-52s ever run. Indeed, some GOAT stats there.

Watch: World No. 1 Sydney McLaughlin Dominates in Her First Race Since Tokyo Olympics

What’s new with McLaughlin?

The Music City Track Carnival in Nashville was McLaughlin’s first 400m hurdle race since her record-breaking run in Tokyo. In the meantime, McLaughlin got married to former NFL player Andre Levrone Jr. on May 6 after a nine-month engagement.

Her season opener at the Penn Relays in the 100m hurdles was also a record-making success, as she finished the race in a record time of 12.75 seconds. Even though the 100m hurdles is not her usual event, she showed incredible skill. At just 22, McLaughlin is already making history. She posted 51.90 seconds at the 2020 US Olympic Trials when she became the first woman to break 52.

McLaughlin has always dominated the sport, right from her high school days. And with two gold Olympic golds to her name in Tokyo, she is on the trajectory of becoming the greatest 400m hurdle sprinter ever. 

PHOTOS: Sydney McLaughlin Finally Reveals Dreamy Pictures From Her Wedding With NFL Star Andre Levrone Jr.