In a stunning display of speed and dominance, American sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone won the women’s 400 meters gold medal at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Her time of 47.78 seconds is the fastest in the event in 40 years, solidifying her seamless and emphatic transition from the 400-meter hurdles to the flat sprint.
Running on a wet track with gusty winds, McLaughlin-Levrone appeared unbothered, gliding to a comfortable victory. Her time shattered the championship record of 47.99 seconds, set in 1983 by Jarmila Kratochvílová, and places her second on the all-time list, just behind the long-standing world record of 47.60 seconds set by Marita Koch in 1985.
The American’s performance silenced any doubters who questioned her decision to switch from the hurdles, an event in which she holds the world record and multiple Olympic and world titles. “I had faith in my training,” she told reporters after the race. “I knew I had it in me to run that fast. It was just a matter of time.”
Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic took the silver medal with a national record of 47.98 seconds, making her the third-fastest woman in history in the event. Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain claimed the bronze with a season’s best of 48.19 seconds.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s victory in the 400m solidifies her place as one of the most dominant athletes of her generation, with many now speculating that the 40-year-old world record is within her grasp.
