Possible for women to break 49s in 400mH

BEFORE Sydney McLaughlin and Femke Bol, there was Dalilah Muhammad. The 400m hurdler not just set a new record in the discipline but she was also the first woman to breach the 52.2 second barrier. At the Khalifa International in the final of the 400mH at the World Championships in 2019, Muhammad scorched her way to the tape at a time of 52.16 seconds, lowering her own world record in the process.

- SWAROOP SWAMINATHAN

Over the last five years or so, the women's 400mH has become one of the most important events in any global athletics meet because of the stars and the records they have created.

In an interview with this daily, the US ace, currently in Bengaluru as an ambassador for the TCS World 10K event on Sunday, spoke about the evolution of the 400mH, Michael Johnson's new Grand Slam Track meet and watching Neeraj Chopra at the Olympics. Excerpts: