Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone confirmed her status as one of the most dominant athletes of modern times with her victory in the Olympic final of the 400 m hurdles, breaking her own world record with a time of 50.37 seconds.

“It’s incredible that our sport continues to grow. That people want to watch the 400-meter hurdles is incredible. There’s just been a lot of hard work put into it this year,” she said after the race. “I knew it was going to be a tough race. An incredible competition through and through.”

The 25-year-old confirmed her mastery in a discipline in which she has now broken the world record six times when she effortlessly beat the impressive Dutch star Femke Bol (52.15) to take third place at the Stade de France on Thursday evening. American Anna Cockrell won silver in 51.87.

“I’ve sacrificed a lot, my family has sacrificed a lot,” Cockrell said. “To do this today when it counts most, on the biggest stage, with my whole family here, we’re all crying our eyes out. I’m really a chatterbox and I’m at a loss for words.”

McLaughlin-Levrone barely seemed to break a sweat as she crossed the finish line with a large lead. She glanced at the video board and smiled briefly as the world record was confirmed. Such feats are now almost routine for her. Later this week, she is expected to compete in the 4×400-meter relay, where she can win the third Olympic gold of her career.

With Thursday’s gold medal, she becomes the first American woman to defend her gold medal in an individual race since Michael Johnson’s back-to-back gold medals in the 400m in 1996 and 2000.

It was a nice birthday present for McLaughlin-Levrone, who turned 25 on Wednesday.

“I’m grateful to be able to celebrate my 25th birthday like this. That was yesterday, just a great opportunity, you can’t even imagine it,” she said. “My whole family is here. We’re going to celebrate, we’re going to enjoy this time and also prepare for the season.”

Earlier in the evening, the Americans won two medals in the 200-meter race: 100-meter champion Noah Lyles won bronze and Kenny Bednarek took silver behind Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, who took gold with an outstanding run. After the race, it was announced that Lyles had contracted Covid.

The United States picked up another gold medal later Thursday when Grant Holloway won the men’s 110-meter hurdles ahead of teammate Daniel Roberts. Jamaica’s Rasheed Broadbell won bronze. For Holloway, it was relief and joy: He is a three-time world champion but had never won Olympic gold before.