Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Faith Kipyegon delivered two of the standout performances of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, reigniting the debate over who is the greatest female athlete of their generation.
In the women’s 400m, McLaughlin-Levrone ran one of the fastest times in history, clocking 48.29 seconds in the semi-finals. The performance not only shattered her personal best but also placed her within striking distance of the long-standing 400m world record of 47.60 seconds, set in 1985. She declared afterward that she had more to show, hinting that the record could be under threat in the final. With Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino and former world champion Salwa Eid Naser also in contention, the showdown promises fireworks.
Meanwhile, Faith Kipyegon reaffirmed her dominance in the 1500m, claiming her fourth world title in the event. The Kenyan superstar surged ahead in the final 300m, leaving her rivals trailing as she crossed the line in 3:52.15. Jessica Hull of Australia briefly threatened but faded to bronze, while Dorcus Ewoi secured silver for Kenya. Kipyegon now joins Hicham El Guerrouj as the only athletes in history to win four world titles over 1500m.
The 31-year-old, who already holds the world record, will now turn her focus to the 5,000m, where she faces a highly anticipated duel with world 10,000m champion Beatrice Chebet. For Kipyegon, the victory symbolized not just a personal milestone but also her relentless drive to keep pushing the boundaries of her sport.
Both athletes are chasing legacies that transcend medals. For McLaughlin-Levrone, breaking a record long shadowed by controversy would cement her place as one of the sport’s greats. For Kipyegon, adding more titles and continuing to dominate across distances could solidify her as the finest middle-distance runner in history.
Elsewhere in Tokyo, New Zealand’s Hamish Kerr soared to gold in the men’s high jump, while the USA’s Cordell Tinch completed a remarkable journey from factory worker to world champion by winning the 110m hurdles. Britain’s Ben Pattison and Max Burgin advanced comfortably in the 800m, providing some relief on a night when other British hopes faltered.
With both McLaughlin-Levrone and Kipyegon at the peak of their powers, Tokyo has become the stage for a duel of giants, each determined to etch her name deeper into the history books.
