Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Takes on New Challenge in 400m at Tokyo Worlds

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is set to make a significant transition at the upcoming World Athletics Championships by shifting from her renowned 400 metres hurdles event to the flat 400 metres. This bold move reflects her relentless ambition and desire for personal growth as she competes in Tokyo, a venue where she previously celebrated Olympic success.

Embracing a New Challenge

The 26-year-old American athlete has dominated the hurdles, having established six world records alongside securing two Olympic and one world title. Yet, this season, she has chosen to focus on the flat 400 metres, a race in which she does not enter as the clear favourite. McLaughlin-Levrone acknowledges that this transition has been a learning experience, but she remains committed to her goal of excelling in this new discipline.

“Over the past few years, the performances I’ve put on have created an appetite for records whenever I step on the track,” she stated during a video call with reporters. “But honestly, I just want to be the best track athlete I can be. If that means it takes time to get faster in the 400, if it takes years, I want to work to do that.”

McLaughlin-Levrone’s journey into the flat 400 began in 2023, but an unfortunate knee injury forced her withdrawal from that year’s championships. Now, she returns with renewed focus and a deeper understanding of the event. “I’ve loved the idea of stepping out into different events, challenging myself, pushing myself, seeing if I can be the best well-rounded athlete I can before I hang up my spikes,” she shared. “This was definitely a huge challenge, and I’ve learned so much this season — about the 400, about myself, about how it’s so different from the hurdles. But I’ve loved every second of it.”

World-Class Performances

McLaughlin-Levrone’s times in the 400 metres are already impressive. She clocked 48.90 seconds at the U.S. championships, just two tenths of a second shy of the American record held by Sanya Richards-Ross. This time stands as the third fastest globally this year, trailing only behind Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain, who recorded 48.67 seconds, and Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic, with 48.81 seconds.

Nonetheless, the world record of 47.6 seconds, set by East German athlete Marita Koch in 1985, remains a daunting challenge. “In time, if you have the right athlete in the right circumstances and everything going right? Yes, I do think someone could break it,” McLaughlin-Levrone commented. “But we’ve got to work on getting somebody under 48 seconds first before we can even talk about 47.6.”

Returning to the Tokyo stadium, where she claimed her first Olympic gold in 2021, adds a layer of significance to her participation in these championships. “It was a very special moment,” she reflected. “In a time where COVID was trapping so many people inside, I think the Olympics still being able to happen was inspiration for us to get back out there, to get back to working hard towards our dreams.”

As McLaughlin-Levrone prepares for this new chapter, her journey exemplifies the spirit of competition and the pursuit of excellence in athletics.