Sydney McLaughlin has followed in the footsteps of fellow 400m hurdling megastar Karsten Warholm by smashing the women's world record in the Tokyo Olympics final.
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A day after Warholm and his US rival Rai Benjamin both obliterated the old men's record in a race being touted as arguably the greatest in track history, American duo McLaughlin and Dalilah Muhammad returned serve in the women's event.
McLaughlin claimed the gold medal in 51.46 seconds while defending Olympic champion Muhammad was second in 51.58.
Both were way under the previous world mark of 51.90 set by McLaughlin at the US Olympic trials in june.
Dutch hurdler Femke Bol was third in 52.03 in a white-hot final where five of the top six finishers set personal bests.
Muhammad held the lead for much of the race, only to be mowed down by McLaughlin inside the final 50 metres.
"I'm absolutely delighted," said 21-year-old McLaughlin.
"What a great race.
"I'm just grateful to be out here celebrating that extraordinary race and representing my country.
"I saw Dalilah ahead of me with one to go. I just thought, 'Run your race'.
"The race doesn't really start until hurdle seven. I just wanted to go out there and give it everything I had."
McLaughlin is coached by legendary American Bobby Kersee and she trains alongside six-time Olympic gold medallist Allyson Felix.
Fourth-placed Jamaican Janieve Russell's time of 53.08 on Wednesday would have been good enough to win gold at the 2016 Rio Games.
Australian Associated Press
