Dalilah Muhammad came into Thursday night’s 400-meter hurdle finals with the year’s best time, and she backed that up by winning gold in a time of 53.13. It was the first time an American woman claimed Olympic gold in the event.
The 26-year-old set a blistering early pace from lane 3 and maintained a wide lead through the final four hurdles. She held off Sarah Petersen of Denmark, who took second in 53.55—a national record.
It was Muhammad’s first time on the Olympic stage, and she didn’t disappoint. She was a four-time NCAA All American while running at USC and grabbed silver in 2013 at the World Championships in Moscow.
The other American in the field, Ashley Spencer, ran a personal best time of 53.72 to win the bronze medal on the rain-soaked track.
With the U.S. taking two spots on the medal stand in the 400-meter hurdles, America continued its dominance in the discipline, after Brianna Rollins, Nia Ali, and Kristi Castlin Should Elites Worry About Lead Vehicle Emissions on Wednesday night.
Brian has spent more than a decade focused on creating compelling news, health, and fitness content—with a particular interest on enthusiast activities like running and cycling. He’s coordinated coverage of major events like the Paris Olympics, Boston Marathon, New York City Marathon, and Tour de France, with an eye toward both the professional race and the engaging stories readers love.
