Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone stunned the athletics world by running the fastest women’s 400 meters in 40 years, securing a World Championship gold medal with a time of 47.78 seconds. On a rainy night in Tokyo, the American athlete completed her remarkable transition from the 400m hurdles with a commanding performance, adding the world title to her already illustrious career that includes two Olympic and one world gold in the hurdles.
The conditions at the National Stadium were far from ideal, with puddles on the track and winds that rattled the stadium, but McLaughlin-Levrone remained poised throughout the race. Her victory not only secured her the title but also placed her second on the all-time 400m list, surpassing the legendary Jarmila Kratochvílová’s time of 47.99 seconds. Only Marita Koch’s controversial world record of 47.60 seconds remains ahead of her, and many believe it is within McLaughlin-Levrone’s reach.
As she crossed the line, it was clear that her years of preparation and belief in her abilities had paid off. “I had faith in my training,” McLaughlin-Levrone said after the race. “I knew I had it in me to run that fast. It was just a matter of time.” Her coach, Bobby Kersee, had often used boxing analogies with her, urging her to “take the belt” and make the title hers.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s composure in the final stretch was evident as she maintained her lead despite the presence of Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino, who finished second in 47.98 seconds. The third-place finisher, Salwa Eid Naser, ran 48.19 seconds, marking the ninth fastest time in history.
Looking to the future, McLaughlin-Levrone hinted at the possibility of competing in both the 400m and 400m hurdles at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, although she acknowledged the challenges posed by the intense competition and the event schedule.
In other notable performances on the night, Busang Collen Kebinatshipi of Botswana won the men’s 400m with a personal best of 43.53 seconds, while Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago claimed his second global javelin title. The evening also saw Cuba’s Leyanis Pérez Hernández win gold in the women’s triple jump with a leap of 14.94 meters. However, it was McLaughlin-Levrone’s historic victory that dominated the headlines, reinforcing her status as one of the greatest athletes of her generation.
