Marileidy Paulino has expressed her dissatisfaction with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s approach to racing, following her defeat in the women’s 400m final at the World Athletics Championships. Despite coming in second, Paulino claimed that her consistent performances across multiple seasons were more meaningful than McLaughlin-Levrone’s one-off victories.
The 400m final in Tokyo saw McLaughlin-Levrone break the championship record with a blistering time of 47.78 seconds, edging out Paulino, who posted a national record time of 47.98 seconds. Salwa Eid Naser finished third with a season’s best of 48.19 seconds.
However, Paulino was quick to downplay McLaughlin-Levrone’s achievement, questioning her opponent’s consistency. The Olympic 400m champion emphasized that she competes in numerous races throughout the season—more than five annually—whereas McLaughlin-Levrone often limits her appearances to only two or three high-profile meets. Paulino believes that this broader competitive schedule shows her true dedication, asserting that it’s not just about winning races, but about continuously putting in the effort over the years.
In an interview, Paulino remarked on her rigorous preparation, pointing out that she had been training intensively for five years, running up to eight races each season. She explained that this consistent commitment is what makes her feel like a winner, regardless of her placement in individual races. For Paulino, showing up time and time again in various competitions speaks louder than a few standout performances in select events.
Reflecting on her performance in the 2025 season, Paulino acknowledged the challenge of competing against athletes like McLaughlin-Levrone but emphasized her unshakable belief in her mental strength. She expressed pride in her progress and vowed to continue pushing forward, always seeing herself as a winner, whether she finishes first, second, or third.
As she looks ahead to the future, Paulino is determined to refine her race strategy and return even stronger for the upcoming season. With another showdown with McLaughlin-Levrone on the horizon, she plans to continue proving that her consistency in competition is the true measure of success in the sport.
