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American Olympian Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone once tipped 400m sprinter Micahel Norman to flat-out beat 400m hurdles specialist Rai Benjamin in his favorite event.
In 2019, a Toyota-sponsored video featuring American Olympians Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Rai Benjamin, along with their coach at the time, Joanna Hayes, captured a humorous exchange during the USATF Outdoor Championships in Des Moines, Iowa.
The video, filmed during a car ride, showcased the trio’s camaraderie as they joked about Michael Norman's hypothetical chances in the 400m hurdles, an event dominated by Benjamin at the time.
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Norman, a 400m specialist and training mate to Benjamin, had stirred conversation by claiming he could defeat Benjamin in his signature event.
Hayes wasted no time in bringing up the topic. "Ask him how he feels about Michael saying he can beat him in the 400m hurdles," she prompted McLaughlin-Levrone, setting the stage for a playful back-and-forth.
McLaughlin-Levrone added fuel to the fire with her take that took Benjamin by surprise, tippping Norman to have the edge.
“I mean, I believe it. If (Michael) just went over some hurdles, it’s over, you’re done,” she teased Benjamin.
Benjamin, known for his sharp wit as much as his hurdling prowess, fired back with a laugh. “First of all, he can’t even touch his toes, so let’s start there. His mobility is… okay.”
However, McLaughlin-Levrone doubled down, insisting that if Norman learned the technique, Benjamin would face serious competition.
Benjamin wasn’t having it, stating, “Well, it’s not going to be a day that I’m going to have,” he quipped confidently.
At the time, Benjamin was fresh off a silver medal in the 400m hurdles at the World Athletics Championships and had also anchored Team USA to gold in the 4x400m relay.
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Earlier that year, at the Mt SAC Relays, Benjamin and Norman had competed in the 400m at El Camino College in Torrance, California where Norman clocked an astonishing 43.45 seconds the fastest time of the 2019 season in the event and the fourth-joint fastest ever while Benjamin posted a personal best of 44.31.
Though the banter hinted at a potential crossover for Norman into hurdling, both athletes have continued to shine in their respective specialties. Today, they each boast Olympic gold medals, solidifying their places among the greatest in track and field history.
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