Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone produced a stunning performance in the women’s 400m semi-finals at the World Athletics Championships, clocking a U.S. record and world-leading time of 48.29 seconds on Tuesday.
American record shattered
The 25-year-old four-time Olympic champion broke the 19-year-old national record set by Sanya Richards-Ross (48.70 in 2006). Her timing was also the fastest of 2025 and the seventh-quickest in history, underlining her dominance ahead of Thursday’s final.
“This race definitely gives me confidence for the final,” McLaughlin-Levrone said. “I didn’t expect to run this fast today. I still have more to show, and I’ll give everything in the final.”
Big names in the fray
McLaughlin-Levrone’s blistering run has set up a mouth-watering clash with Dominican Republic’s Marileidy Paulino, the reigning Olympic and world champion, and Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser, a former world title winner.
Paulino qualified second in her semi-final with 49.82 seconds after easing up before the line, while Naser comfortably advanced, winning her heat in 49.47. Both will pose a formidable challenge in the medal race.
48.29! This is how much Sydney McLaughlin won her 400m semifinal section by at the 2025 World Championships.
Amber Anning and Nickisha Pryce are running 49.38 and 49.46 behind her.
Mother Goose! Just stunning!#WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/p32wpNu1VN
— Chris Chavez (@ChrisChavez) September 16, 2025
Switch from hurdles paying off
Known primarily as the world record holder in the 400m hurdles, McLaughlin-Levrone opted to compete in the flat event this year. Despite the change, she looked in complete control, dominating from lane 8 and finishing well clear of Britain’s Amber Anning, who clocked 49.38.
Her coach Bobby Kersee has tailored her training to focus on speed endurance, and the results are already showing. The next target could be the long-standing world record of 47.60 set by East Germany’s Marita Koch in 1985 — a mark untouched for four decades.
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.
Eyes on the final
With confidence high and fitness peaking, McLaughlin-Levrone now stands on the brink of adding a first 400m flat world title to her illustrious career. All eyes will be on Thursday’s final, where history could be rewritten once again.
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