- Philippines challenges China over South China Sea at ASEAN meet
- Mets advance on Lindor blast, Dodgers stay alive in MLB playoffs
- Injury-ravaged Krygios aiming to return at Australian Open
- Greek international Baldock, dead at 31: family
- EU talks deportation hubs to stem migration
- Deaths and repression sideline Suu Kyi's party ahead of Myanmar vote
- S. Africa offers a lesson on how not to shut down a coal plant
- China opens $71 bn 'swap facility' to boost markets
- Mets advance on Lindor grand slam, Yankees and Tigers win
- Taiwan President Lai vows to 'resist annexation' of island
- China's solar goes from supremacy to oversupply
- Asian markets track Wall St record as Hong Kong, Shanghai stabilise
- 'Denying my potential': women at Japan's top university call out gender imbalance
- China's central bank says opens up $70.6 bn in liquidity to boost market
- Zelensky on whirlwind tour of Europe ahead of US vote
- Youth facing unprecedented wave of violence, UN envoy warns
- 'A casino in every kitchen': Brazil's online gambling craze
- Nobel chemistry winner sees engineered proteins solving tough problems
- Lindor powers Mets past Phillies into NL Championship Series
- Wildlife populations plunge 73% since 1970: WWF
- 'Sleeper agent' bots on X fuel US election misinformation, study says
- Death toll rises to 109 after Haiti gang attack, official says
- Tigers beat Guardians and on brink of advancing in MLB playoffs
- Argentina MPs back Milei's veto of university funding
- Man City sink Barca in Women's Champions League as Bayern outgun Arsenal
- Greek international Baldock, 31, found dead in pool: state agency
- Florida seaside haven a ghost town as hurricane nears
- Pharrell Williams to co-chair Met Gala exploring Black dandyism
- Wall Street indices hit fresh records as Chinese shares tumble
- Taiwan's president to deliver key speech for National Day
- Sea row on the menu as ASEAN leaders meet China's Li
- Injured Kane won't start England's Nations League clash with Greece
- Discord seen as online home for renegades
- US forecasts severe solar storm starting Thursday
- Mozambique starts tallying votes in tense election
- Zelensky moves to court European leaders in drive for military aid
- Ratan Tata: Indian mogul who built a global powerhouse
- Rodgers rejects 'false' suggestions of role in Saleh dismissal
- One dead as storm Kirk tears through Spain, Portugal, France
- Indian business titan Ratan Tata dead at 86
- Lebanon facing 'catastrophic' situation as 600,000 displaced: UN
- US warns Israel not to repeat Gaza destruction in Lebanon
- Musk's X returns in Brazil after 40-day showdown with judge
- Call her savvy? Harris unleashes unconventional media blitz
- Lucian Freud 'masterpiece' fetches £13.9 million at London sale
- SoFi Stadium to hold next two CONCACAF Nations League finals
- McIlroy and DeChambeau set for PGA-LIV 'Showdown' in Vegas
- Fed minutes highlight divisions over rate cut decision
- Steve McQueen debuts new WWII film at London festival
- Run blitz edges India and South Africa closer to World Cup semi-finals
McLaughlin-Levrone targeting more records after Olympic showstopper
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is targeting more records after cementing her place as the greatest women's 400m hurdler in history with a jaw-dropping defence of her Olympic crown.
The 25-year-old American star electrified the Stade de France on Thursday after storming to victory over rival Femke Bol in a new world record of 50.37sec.
The emphatic nature of the win suggested that McLaughlin-Levrone, who wore a sparkling tiara on her lap of honour, is poised to reign over her event for years to come.
While McLaughlin-Levrone may yet take another crack at mastering the flat 400, as she did in 2023, she also has her sights set on becoming the first woman to duck under 50 seconds.
Thursday marked the sixth time McLaughlin-Levrone has bettered the world record since 2021, when she ran 51.90sec to break Dalilah Muhammad's mark of 52.16sec.
McLaughlin-Levrone believes given how rapidly the record has progressed, sub-50 is achievable.
"I think this is an event that wasn't very popular, but we've made it very popular very quickly," she said.
"I do think 49 is possible and I do think the talent sitting in front of you can do that," she added referring to silver medallist Anna Cockrell and the Netherlands' Bol.
- Raising the bar -
"I think we're pushing each other to do that and to get better and improve and find ways to lower times that for so long were thought impossible. I don't know when (sub-50) is possible, but it's out there for sure."
"The event's getting faster and faster. There's so much depth in it and I think it always keeps me on my toes. I always want to continue to try to improve and figure out ways to just continue getting better and the race you know, there's so many different ways to run it, so many different stride patterns and all these things."
McLaughlin-Levrone's rival Bol meanwhile credited the American for redefining the 400m hurdles.
"Sydney has really pushed the bar. She was running 50 seconds when I was still running 52. It has really opened your eyes that there's so much more possible.
"And once again she's proved in the moment that matters most, an Olympic final, that she can perform so well. We're getting close to 49. It's really amazing to be part of this."
McLaughlin-Levrone's dominance of her event is so complete it has even left some wondering whether the rules -- specifically the height of the hurdles -- need to be changed.
Speaking Thursday before McLaughlin-Levrone's latest victory, World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe said increasing the height of hurdles could be examined in future.
"There's probably a case now for looking at the height of the hurdles because these guys don't really look like they're breaking their form very much to do that," Coe said.
"It's just very much a personal view. But I've spoken to a couple of 400 meter hurdlers and they think that actually, it's probably something we might want to look at."
O.M.Souza--AMWN