US superstar Sydney McLaughlin smashes 400m hurdles world record

RECORD BREAKER: USA's Sydney McLaughlin celebrates next to her World Record time following the Women's 400m Hurdles Final on day eight of the World Athletics Championships.

US superstar Sydney McLaughlin produced a jaw-dropping performance at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon last night, the 22-year-old smashing her 400m hurdles world record with a time of 50.68, which was seven tenths of a second quicker than her previous mark.

Silver went to Femke Bol of the Netherlands in 52.27, with bronze going to the previous world champion Dalilah Muhammad of USA in 53.13. McLaughin’s run, however, put everything else firmly in the shadows, and after the race she dropped to the track where she sat for considerable time. There were two reasons for that.