American Athlete Breaks New Ground in 400m at World Championships

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Makes History in Women’s 400m at World Championships.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has solidified her status as one of the greatest athletes in track and field—and beyond. The U.S. sprinter made history at the 2025 World Track and Field Championships in Tokyo on September 18 by winning gold in the women’s 400m with a championship record time of 47.78 seconds. This marks the second-fastest time ever recorded in the event and makes her the first athlete to claim world championship gold in both the women’s 400m and 400m hurdles.

Dominican Republic’s Marileidy Paulino set a national record with a time of 47.98 seconds to earn silver, while Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser took bronze with 48.19 seconds.

This achievement was McLaughlin-Levrone’s second historic moment at the championships. In the semifinals, she broke the 19-year-old American record held by Sanya Richards-Ross (48.70) with a time of 48.29 seconds, which she then bettered in the final with the championship record.

Already the world record holder, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and 2022 world champion in the 400m hurdles, McLaughlin-Levrone now adds the world champion title in the 400m flat race to her impressive résumé, cementing her dominance in both one-lap events.