| Dates: 23 July-8 August Time in Tokyo: BST +8 |
| Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Red Button and online; Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live, Sports Extra and Sounds; live text and video clips on BBC Sport website and app. |
USA’s Sydney McLaughlin smashed her own world record with a sensational run as she took Olympic gold in the women’s 400m hurdles at the Tokyo Games.
McLaughlin, 21, powered down the home straight to finish in 51.46 seconds as she shaved almost half a second off the old mark to reel in compatriot and rival Dalilah Muhammad.
Defending Olympic champion Muhammad, 31, claimed silver with 51.58secs.
The Netherlands’ Femke Bol took bronze behind the reigning world champion.
In a race featuring five personal bests, McLaughlin’s blistering time lowered the mark she set at the US trials in June, when she clocked 51.90secs.
After a near 16-year period of the record remaining in tact, Muhammad and McLaughlin have now exchanged the world best on four occasions in the last two years.
McLaughlin superbly judged her effort in chasing down Rio 2016 champion Muhammad, who set the early pace and still held a slim advantage over the final hurdle.
The new women’s best follows Norway’s Karsten Warholm obliterating his own world record in the men’s 400m hurdles on Tuesday.
Britain’s Pozzi progresses
Earlier on Wednesday Britain’s Andrew Pozzi qualified for the final of the men’s 110m hurdles as a fastest loser after being edged into fourth in a competitive first semi-final.
However, his GB team-mate David King did not progress after finishing seventh in the third semi-final dominated by American world champion Grant Holloway.
Holloway was easing down as he set the fastest time of the round in 13.13secs, with his compatriot Devon Allen – who won the second semi-final – narrowly behind him on 13.18.
More to follow.
