The 26-year-old American, already a two-time Olympic champion and world record holder in the 400m hurdles, silenced her critics by storming to gold in the flat 400m, clocking a championship-record 47.78 seconds, the second-fastest time in history, at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Thursday.
That’s the greatest 400m we’ve ever seen ‼️
47.78 championship record, take a bow for @GoSydGo 🙌#WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/KfOW2spcVH
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) September 18, 2025
Teasing a Double in LA
On home soil in four years’ time, McLaughlin-Levrone said she was open to the idea of competing in both events, though much would depend on the Olympic timetable.
“We will need to talk about the schedule for the Los Angeles 2028
Olympic Games — maybe I could do both 400m and 400m hurdles,” she said.
“I would need some days off between those events, and there is a tough field in both events. You’ve got to respect all the girls. In order to put your best performances together, you need your body to be ready for it.”
Answering the Critics
Her decision to step away from the hurdles — an event where she had been unbeaten for six years — had raised eyebrows. But McLaughlin-Levrone delivered an emphatic answer, two days after smashing the US record in the semi-finals.
“I know there was a lot of doubt from a lot of people for me making this switch, and I just wanted to show myself I can do it,” she said.
“I see things online. I see what people say, and ultimately, that’s okay. I think that’s what makes the sport great. They want to see great matchups. They want to see people be uncomfortable, and I think today was a really great race for track and field.”
Nearing a World Record
On a rain-soaked track at Tokyo’s National Stadium, McLaughlin-Levrone surged out of lane five, setting the pace early. Defending champion Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic briefly threatened from the outside, but McLaughlin-Levrone held her composure and powered through to finish just shy of the long-standing world record of 47.60 seconds, set by East Germany’s Marita Koch in 1985.
Her winning time obliterated the previous championship mark of 47.99 seconds, held since 1983 by Jarmila Kratochvilova of Czechoslovakia.
After crossing the line, gasping for breath, she composed herself before celebrating with her husband, former NFL player Andre Levrone Jr.
A Champion’s Mentality
McLaughlin-Levrone credited both her coach and her rivals for pushing her to the limit.
“It definitely helped having Marileidy Paulino in the outer lane where I could see her, but I still had to get the work done,” she said.
“My coach told me to get out of the blocks as fast as possible, not to stay in it for long. I knew the girls were going to push me but what mattered was to stay composed.”
(with AFP inputs)
