Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has done it again. On a rain-soaked evening at the National Stadium in Tokyo, the American sprinter delivered a performance for the ages, running 47.78 seconds in the women’s 400m to claim gold at the World Athletics Championships 2025.
It was the fastest women’s 400m time in four decades, placing her second on the all-time list, behind only East German sprinter Marita Koch’s controversial world record of 47.60 set in 1985.
From hurdles queen to 400m flat dominance
McLaughlin-Levrone’s victory marks the completion of her transition from the 400m hurdles, where she already holds the world record and two Olympic titles. The decision to step away from her signature event initially drew skepticism, but Thursday’s result silenced any doubts.
“I had faith in my training,” she told reporters. “I knew I had it in me to run that fast. It was just a matter of time.”
Her coach, Bobby Kersee, framed the challenge in boxing terms: “You got to go out there and take the belt. It’s not yours, and you got to go earn it.” McLaughlin-Levrone did exactly that.
A historic run in difficult conditions
Despite strong winds and puddles across the Tokyo track, the American looked calm and composed. From lane five, she maintained her form as the Olympic champion, Marileidy Paulino, pushed hard in the outer lane. Paulino finished with silver in 47.98, the third-fastest time in history. Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser claimed bronze in 48.19, also one of the top-10 fastest times ever recorded.
Britain’s Amber Anning clocked a season’s best of 49.36 to finish fifth, showing the depth of the field in one of the most competitive 400 m finals in memory.
How her time ranks in history
McLaughlin-Levrone’s 47.78 not only earned her gold but also moved her past Czech runner Jarmila Kratochvilova on the all-time list. Only Marita Koch’s long-standing record of 47.60 remains above her. Koch’s mark, achieved during the height of East Germany’s state-run sports system, has been clouded by doping suspicions, making McLaughlin-Levrone’s performance all the more remarkable.
As bronze medalist Eid Naser put it: “I think that very soon the women’s 400m world record will be broken. After tonight’s race I can see it is around the corner.”
Other highlights from the night in Tokyo
While McLaughlin-Levrone stole the show, several other athletes made headlines:
- Busang Collen Kebinatshipi (Botswana) won the men’s 400m in 43.53, with compatriot Bayapo Ndori taking bronze and Jereem Richards (Trinidad and Tobago) finishing with silver. It marked a historic night for Botswana.
- Keshorn Walcott (Trinidad and Tobago) claimed gold in the men’s javelin, his second global title, 13 years after his breakthrough Olympic win in London.
- Leyanis Pérez Hernández (Cuba) struck gold in the women’s triple jump, leaping 14.94m to secure victory.
What’s next for McLaughlin-Levrone?
After this record-threatening run, McLaughlin-Levrone hinted at even bigger ambitions. Looking ahead to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, she said she might attempt the double, competing in both the 400m hurdles and the 400m flat.
“We will need to talk about the schedule for LA,” she said. “Maybe I could do both events. But I would need some days off between those events, and there is a tough field in both.”
For now, though, her Tokyo triumph cements her status not only as the best in the world today but as one of the greatest 400m runners in history.
As she summed up: “I think it shows that anything really is possible.”
