The first world record of the World Athletics Championships came tonight, and as expected it happened in the women's 400 meters hurdles.
No less expected, that for the fourth time in the last 13 months, always in a big competition, it was Sydney McLaughlin who smashed him.
This time, she zoomed in and smashed it into small pieces.
The 22-year-old American dropped no less than 0.72 hundredths from the previous record she set a month and a half ago and stopped the clock at 50.68 seconds - the first to drop below the 51 second mark.
Just to put this result in perspective: she is ranked 19th in the world in the 400 hurdles!
Tonight, more than a second and a half after her came the Dutch Pemka Ball who won the silver with 52.27 seconds while Delilah Muhammad finished third with a result of 53.13 seconds.
"It's not real" McLaughlin said at the end, who within a year lowered the world record from 52.16 seconds to the current 50.68;
"I still believe that you can run faster, but any result under 51 seconds is a success for me."
McLaughlin at the moment of crossing the finish line.
Historic run, photo: Reuters
Now, at the age of 22, Machlochlin holds the three greatest achievements in the world of athletics: world champion, Olympic champion and world record holder.
She is the second youngest to do it after the Ethiopian Kannisa Bakla, the second to do it in such a short period of time after Usain Bolt and the second next to Edwin Moses who until tonight was the only one to break the world record in 400 hurdles four different times.
According to estimates, McLaughlin's next step will be to first complete a double in the current championship with a gold in the women's 400x4, and in the near future to also make the transition to the flat 400 without hurdles.
"Everything is possible" concluded the world record holder;
"I will do what my coach tells me."
Michael Norman forgot Tokyo
Later tonight: after two Olympic gold medals, Shona Miller Oyibo was crowned the world champion in the 400 meters.
The runner from the Bahamas had no competition and crossed the finish line in a time of 49.11 seconds.
Marilady Paulino from the Dominican Republic came in second place with a time of 49.60 seconds and Sada Williams from Barbados finished in third place with 49.75.
For the men, Michael Norman won gold in a time of 44.29 seconds and put the disappointment of Tokyo behind him.
So, about a year ago, the 24-year-old American faded towards the end and was left with fifth place, but this time he didn't let anyone pass him on his way to his first gold.
He was followed by Kirani James of Granada with 44.48 seconds and the British Matthew Hodson Smith who set 44.66 seconds.
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