McLaughlin-Levrone Wins 400m Gold with Historic Time at World Championships
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone clinched the 400m gold at the World Championships in Tokyo, recording a time of 47.78 seconds—the fastest in 40 years.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone secured the women's 400 meters gold at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, clocking 47.78 seconds—the fastest time in the event since 1985. This performance marks her successful transition from the 400m hurdles, where she holds two Olympic and one world title, to the flat 400m.
In a rain-soaked final, McLaughlin-Levrone edged out Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic, who finished in 47.98 seconds, making her the third-fastest woman in history. Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain, returning from a two-year doping ban, claimed bronze with a time of 48.19 seconds.
McLaughlin-Levrone's time is second only to the world record of 47.60 seconds set by East Germany's Marita Koch in 1985. Reflecting on her achievement, McLaughlin-Levrone stated,
"It's amazing, it's an honour. I knew there were a lot of people doubting me with making the switch from 400 metres hurdles to the flat 400m, but ultimately ... I knew I had it in me. It was just a matter of ... ."
Looking ahead, she hinted at the possibility of competing in both the 400m and 400m hurdles at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Paulino, despite her silver finish, expressed pride in breaking the 48-second barrier and optimism about future performances.