Dalilah Muhammad and Sydney McLaughlin set for epic Olympic showdown in 400m hurdles

The rain couldn’t stop Dalilah Muhammad and Sydney McLaughlin in the semi-finals of the 400m hurdles.

In the first heat, Muhammad finished well ahead of the competition in a time of 53.30.

Don't RAIN on Dalilah's parade! ☔️@TeamUSA's Dalilah Muhammad leads the way in the first semis of the women's 400m hurdles. #TokyoOlympics

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📱 NBC Sports App pic.twitter.com/UEQeX9FgV7

— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 2, 2021

Then, later on, McLaughlin cruised to victory in a time of 53.03.

GO SYD GO! 💪@TeamUSA's Sydney McLaughlin will join teammate, Dalilah Muhammad, in the women's 400m hurdles final. @GoSydGo // #TokyoOlympics

💻 https://t.co/FmEtvutDRA
📱 NBC Sports App pic.twitter.com/inGkUSZHbb

— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 2, 2021

The wins in the semi final heats set up a much-anticipated showdown between the two in the final.

Muhammad is looking to defend her gold medal from 2016, while McLaughlin has been all the talk of the track world since her dominant high school career. The last three times the two have faced off on the track, a world record has been broken. Most recently, at Olympic Trials in June, McLaughlin became the first woman in history to crack 52 seconds in the event at 51.90.

Watch the two duke it out once more on Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. ET on NBC.