Tokyo : Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone stunned the athletics world on Tuesday by blazing through the 400m semi-final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo with a commanding U.S. record and world-leading time of 48.29 seconds. The 26-year-old, best known for her world record in the 400m hurdles, made a bold switch to the flat 400m this season and has rapidly become the hot favorite for the gold medal.
Her performance crushed the previous U.S. record of 48.70 seconds, set by Sanya Richards-Ross in 2006, by nearly half a second, showcasing her extraordinary talent and fitness. McLaughlin-Levrone’s semi-final win sets up an exciting final showdown with Paris 2024 Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino and Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser, the fastest woman this year, both of whom also qualified for Thursday’s final.
McLaughlin-Levrone expressed both surprise and gratitude for her stunning time, saying she felt she had some reserves left in the tank even after completing the race. She credited her strong fitness and training, including pacing help from a quarter-miler training partner, and said she was “excited for the finals” and “honored” to break the American record.
This breakthrough could mark the start of a new chapter in McLaughlin-Levrone’s illustrious career as she eyes her first world title in the 400m flat, adding to her status as a multiple Olympic gold medallist and world record-holder in hurdles.
The final will be a highlight of the championships, with McLaughlin-Levrone, Paulino, and Naser all vying for top honors in a thrilling race.
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