Sydney McLaughlin wins Gold in Olympic 400-meter hurdles

Former Kentucky Wildcats track and field star Sydney McLaughlin of Team USA won gold in the Olympic 400-meter hurdles Tuesday night with a new world record of 51.46.

The previous world record also belonged to McLaughlin after she ran 51.90 at U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

“Just trust in the process, giving the glory to God,” McLaughlin told NBC’s Lewis Johnson after the race. “It’s all the season, hard work, dedication, and just really grateful to be able to represent my country and just have this opportunity.”

McLaughlin ran for UK in the 2017-18 season before becoming a professional runner. In one season at UK, she was the 2018 NCAA Champion in the 400-meter hurdles and SEC Champion in the 400-meter dash (indoor), 400-meter hurdles and 4x400-meter relay.

She was also a five-time All-American, collegiate record-holder in the 400-meter hurdles (52.75), and a finalist for the Bowerman Award.

Prior to running for UK, McLaughlin ran in the Rio 2016 Olympics.

McLaughlin’s gold medal-winning performance joined two more UK track & field alumni that have won medals in Tokyo, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn and Keni Harrison.

Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico ran an Olympic record in the 100-meter hurdles for the gold medal, followed by Team USA’s Harrison for silver.

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