American track and field superstar Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone continues to cement herself as one of sports’ greatest ever athletes each time she steps on the track.
McLaughlin-Levrone added to her legend by winning the gold medal in the women’s 400-meter dash at the World Athletics Championships on last Thursday in Tokyo, Japan.
McLaughlin’s victory was spectacular on a number of levels. Her winning time of 47.78 seconds was a new American record. It was also the second fastest time in the history of the event, just off the world record of 47.60 set by East German Marita Koch in 1985.
She also broke a World Championships’ meet record that stood for 42 years. It was also the first time an athlete broke 48 seconds in the 400 in 39 years. McLaughlin-Levrone also defeated a star-studded group of athletes, which included 2024 Olympic gold medalist Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic. Paulino also broke 48 seconds as she posted a time of 47.98.
McLaughlin-Levrone is a two-time gold medalist and current world record holder in the 400-meter hurdles. She took a break from the hurdles to concentrate on the open 400 this season. She has posted four of the fastest times in the event in history by an American.