The 400m-hurdles for women promises to be one of the highlights of the Tokyo Olympic Games, especially with the three of the fastest athletes ever who are going to duel it out for gold. 

The 21-year-old Sydney McLaughlin (USA) set a new world record last month during the US Olympic Trials running 51.90s. In addition, she is the first female athlete to dip under 52 seconds in the 400m-hurdles. 

The former world record holder (52.16s), Dalilah Muhammad (USA), is also competing. Her best time for the season is 52.42s. The third contender to win gold is Femke Bol (Netherlands), who ran 52.37s three weeks ago. Bol's time ranks her fourth on the all-time list. 

The nine-time South African champion Wenda Nel will line up to race against them early on Saturday morning (SA time). She is excited about what is happening in women's 400m-hurdles racing, but she will not allow herself to be intimidated. 

"The biggest mistake I could make to think I got to be as fast as they are. I have got my own goals, and I know my body's limitations. I can only control what I do. Every hour of training had been geared to try and ensure that when I settle in my starting blocks, I will run that perfect race," the Tuks based athlete said.

"I would love for it to be at the Olympic Games, but in sport, there are never any guarantees. All I can promise is that every time I settle in my starting blocks, the goal is to race to the best of my ability.

"Even during the heats, I am going to give it my all. It is, after all, the Olympic Games. You are not just going to 'jog' through to the next round. 

"I want to leave my own legacy and enjoy my 'journey'. Each of us writes our own story. Fans will see us race for 50 odd seconds from Saturday on. But few would know about the weeks and hours of training that went into preparing to be at your best for those few seconds. The struggles you had to overcome. The uncertainties you faced. The joy of that breakthrough moments." 

According to the Tuks based athlete Tatjana Schoenmaker winning silver in the 100m-breaststroke and Bianca Buitendag silver in surfing inspired every athlete in the South African team.

"I still get goosebumps when I think what they had I achieved. It is huge, especially for women's sport in South Africa. Hopefully, our young 'girls' will now realise they can dream big."

The Tuks based athlete won a bronze medal during the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games medallist and was a finalist during the 2015 World Championship in Beijing. Her best time is 54.37s. From 2015 to 2018, she was ranked amongst the twenty fastest 400m-hurdlers in the world. In 2018 she was the ninth-fastest in the world. Her season-best time of 55.16s currently ranks her 21st in the world.