World Athletics Championships 2025: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Wins the 400m World Title

In track and field, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is well-known. She is a household name in all sports because of her accolades.

McLaughlin-Levrone presented a strong case for being regarded as the nation’s top female athlete. At the 2025 World Track and Field Championships in Tokyo, Japan on Thursday, September 18, the American sprinter created history by taking home the gold in the women’s 400 with a championship record time of 47.78. It’s the second-fastest time in the event’s history. She is the first individual to win gold in both the women’s 400-meter hurdles and the women’s 400-meter event at the world championship.

Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic finished in second place with a national record time of 47.98. Bahrain qualified for the bronze medal with a Salwa Eid Naser time of 48.19.

McLaughlin-Levrone created history at this year’s World Championships for the second time on Thursday. When McLaughlin-Levrone raced a 48.29 in the 400 during the semifinals, she broke the American record of 48.70 set by 19-year-old Sanya Richards-Ross. With the second-fastest time ever, she broke her own American record on Thursday.

In the 400 hurdles, McLaughlin-Levrone holds the world record, has won two gold medals at the Olympics, and is the world champion for 2022. Now that she has made history by winning the gold in both one-lap events, the American sprinter may add the 400 to her list of achievements.