Few anticipated Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone would step away from the 400m hurdles, but her bold move into the flat 400m has quickly become one of the most talked-about storylines ahead of the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.
The Olympic champion and world record holder in the hurdles has already proven her dominance in one event. Now, she is testing her limits in a discipline where legends are made. Earlier this year, she stunned athletics fans by confirming she would focus solely on the 400m, leaving behind the event where she reigns supreme.
That decision has already paid off. McLaughlin-Levrone stormed to victory at the U.S. National Championships, booking her ticket to Tokyo and remaining unbeaten over the distance this season. Her personal best of 48.74 seconds marks her as one of the fastest women in history and shows just how quickly she has adapted to the flat race.
The challenge, however, will be immense. In Tokyo, she will line up against world-class rivals including Salwa Eid Naser, the 2019 world champion, and Marileidy Paulino, the 2023 global gold medallist. Both athletes boast sub-49 second times and the kind of big-stage experience that could test McLaughlin-Levrone’s ability to dominate a new event.
Looming over the race is the 400m world record of 47.60 seconds, set by Marita Koch in 1985. Many experts believe McLaughlin-Levrone has the talent to one day threaten it, though she remains cautious. She insists her focus is not on chasing history just yet, but on steady improvement and competing with the very best in the world.
Her story heading into Tokyo is more than just about medals or records it is about courage, growth, and redefining boundaries. Whether she claims the world title or edges closer to the elusive record, McLaughlin-Levrone’s willingness to step into uncharted territory has already made her one of the standout figures of the championships.
