When American Olympic star Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone announced she would contest the women’s 400m instead of her signature 400m hurdles at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, many questioned how she would fare. On Tuesday night, she silenced the doubters by running a new American 400m record of 48.29 seconds in the semi-finals.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s performance shattered the long-standing U.S. record of 48.70 seconds, set by Sanya Richards-Ross exactly 19 years ago, on Sept. 16, 2009. The time also moved her to seventh on the all-time list for the women’s 400m. She now holds the American record in both the 400m and 400m hurdles.
The four-time Olympic gold medallist blasted out of the blocks in the second semi-final and still had enough left in the tank to ease off in the final metres, booking her place in the final with the fastest qualifying time by a full second.
The 26-year-old admitted afterward that the time surprised her. “I feel like I still have more to show, and I’m confident in where my fitness is,” McLaughlin-Levrone said in a post-race media scrum. “I will give everything I have in the final.”
Although McLaughlin-Levrone was viewed as a medal contender, few expected her to have the speed to challenge the reigning Olympic 400m champion, Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic, or Burundi’s Salwa Eid Naser, for gold—given that the 400m is their main event.
With four of the fastest 10 women in history lining up in Thursday’s final, track and field fans will be on world record watch, eyeing one of the sport’s longest-standing marks: Marita Koch’s 400m world record of 47.60, set in 1985 while competing for East Germany.
The women’s 400m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships is scheduled for Thursday at 10:24 p.m. local time (9:24 a.m. ET).
For full results of the 2025 World Athletics Championships, click here.
Canadian Running’s coverage of the 2025 World Athletics Championships is brought to you by ASICS Canada.
