Olympics-Athletics-'Iron sharpens iron': McLaughlin, Muhammad hurdle to new heights

Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Athletics - Women's 400m Hurdles - Medal Ceremony - Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - August 4, 2021. Gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin of the United States, silver medalist Dalilah Muhammad of the United States, and bronze medalist Femke Bol of the Netherlands celebrate on podium REUTERS/Lindsey Wasson

TOKYO (Reuters) - From the outside, it was the ultimate clash of rivals: the 2016 Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad facing off in the 400 metre hurdles final against 21-year-old Sydney McLaughlin, who clobbered her world record weeks prior.

But to McLaughlin, who won Olympic gold in yet another record-smashing performance of 51.46 seconds on Wednesday, the two Americans' race toward history goes much deeper than "rivalry".