Cardozo High School Athlete Returns To Olympic Games

BAYSIDE, QUEENS — In 2016, record-setting track and field athlete Dalilah Muhammad stood on a podium in Rio de Janeiro and received the gold medal in the 400 meter hurdles Olympic event.

In the five years since then, Muhammad broke the event's then 16-year-old world record and was voted track and field's 'Women's Athlete Of The Year.' But, the athlete from Queens has faced a series of setbacks this spring, including a hamstring injury and a fight against COVID-19.

Last month, Muhammad was bested by another hurdler in the Olympic trials, however, she still qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, and is ready to win.

"I think there's more in store for me, and Tokyo will be good for me," Muhammad told NBC Sports last month, after her teammate Sydney McLaughlin ran the 400 meter hurdles in 51.90 seconds, breaking Muhammad's 52.16 time to become the first woman to ever break 52 seconds in the event.

Muhammad, who was born-and-raised in Rochdale, Queens and attended Bayside's Cardozo High School, doesn't look at her competition with McLaughlin as a rivalry, as much as something that pushes her to improve.

"I love seeing where the event can go," Muhammad told the Washington Post, adding that she and McLaughlin — who is nearly 10 years her junior — are at "different times in our careers."

"In reality I wish Sydney nothing but the best," she said. And indeed when McLaughlin crossed the finish line at the Olympic Trials, the first congratulations she received was from Muhammad, who gave her a hug as the younger athlete gasped in disbelief of her record-setting time.

Although the two don't harbor hard feelings against each other, Muhammad still said that the event in Tokyo is "going to be a battle."

Muhammad will be among the 621 members of the United States Olympic team at the Tokyo games, including others from Queens.

A full schedule for the Tokyo games can be found here.