Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Conquers New 400m Challenge at Tokyo Worlds

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is set to make a significant transition at the World Athletics Championships this month in Tokyo. The 26-year-old American athlete will swap her renowned 400 metres hurdles event for the flat 400 metres, a move that showcases her competitive spirit and dedication to personal growth. With a remarkable track record that includes six world records in her primary event, as well as two Olympic titles and one world championship title, McLaughlin-Levrone is now stepping into new territory.

Despite her impressive credentials, she is not the clear favourite in the flat 400m. This season marks a learning opportunity for her, as she embraces the challenge of mastering a different discipline. “Over the past few years, the performances I’ve put on have created an appetite for records whenever I step on the track,” McLaughlin-Levrone stated during a recent 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.”

A Journey of Resilience and Growth

McLaughlin-Levrone’s journey into the flat 400m began in 2023. Unfortunately, she faced a setback due to a knee injury that forced her to withdraw from the world championships that year. Now, with her sights set on Tokyo, she returns with renewed focus and an appreciation for the intricacies of the race. “It’s definitely something I knew I wanted to come back to. 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 reflected.

She acknowledges that this new discipline poses different challenges. “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,” she added. When asked about the differences between the two events, McLaughlin-Levrone humorously noted, “The 400 hurdles is such a cadence race, that even though you feel like you’re sprinting very fast, you’re still on a stride pattern. Whereas the 400 is really just a sprint.” This candid description underlines the intensity of the flat 400m compared to her previous event.

World-Class Times and Future Aspirations

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

The world record in the flat 400m remains a formidable target. It was set by Marita Koch in 1985, at a remarkable 47.6 seconds, although questions about doping practices in East Germany during that era linger. McLaughlin-Levrone expressed her belief in the possibility of breaking such records, stating, “In time, if you have the right athlete in the right circumstances and everything going right? Yes, I do think someone could break it. But we’ve got to work on getting somebody under 48 seconds first before we can even talk about 47.6.”

As she prepares to compete in the same stadium where she won her first Olympic gold in 2021, McLaughlin-Levrone reflects on the significance of this moment. “It was a very special moment,” she recalled. “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.”

With a fierce determination and an unwavering commitment to her craft, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is poised to make her mark in the flat 400m at the upcoming championships, showcasing her evolution as an athlete and her readiness to embrace new challenges.