McLaughlin-Levrone Sets Stage for LA Olympics Glory Story

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone set the world championships on fire on Thursday at the world athletics championships with a record performance in the 400 meters that seemed to blaze a trail straight to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

McLaughlin-Levrone, who has won two Olympic sprint gold medals and owns a world title in the 400 hurdles, smoked a challenging field with her 47.78-second meet-record run around Tokyo’s National Stadium rain-dampened track that was just shy of Marita Koch’s 40-year-old world mark of 47.60.

It was just the second 400-meter run under 48 seconds in women’s history. McLaughlin-Levrone took a brief timeout during her post-race press availability to let the media know she was still processing the results.

“I don’t have many more words for you guys right now, I’m still trying to process all of it,” McLaughlin-Levrone told reporters.

McLaughlin-Levrone said coach Bob Kersee helped her put the experience into perspective during their preparation.

“At the end of the day, this wasn’t my title to hold onto. It was mine to gain. … Bobby uses boxing terms all the time. He said, ‘You’ve got to go out there and take the belt. It’s not yours, and you’ve got to go earn it,’” she said.

“And so, it was about running the best I could, and I’m grateful that we were able to do that.”

Doing her best will be the continuing challenge for the 26-year-old McLaughlin-Levrone as the ’28 Games approach. The record-setting race featured a scorching performance from the top three finishers.

Reigning Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic captured the silver medal by also running a sub-48, finishing in 47.98, and Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser picked up the bronze with a 48.19.

It was the first time in history that two women finished faster than 48 seconds in the same 400, a race some labeled the greatest ever.

Both Paulino and Naser came into the meet with confidence. They had each previously beaten McLaughlin-Levrone in the 400 flat sprint, the only two losses for the American in the event.

The time was a national record for Paulino, a 28-year-old who figures to be at the L.A. Games in two-plus years, and a strong performance from Naser, who’s 27.

“I still have faith that one day I will break the world record,” Paulino said in a track-side interview after the event. “I already broke the 48-second barrier, so I think I have what it takes.”

Paulino then took aim at the event-switching McLaughlin-Levrone, a relative newcomer to the flat 400.

“I’ve been running for five years consecutively because I love this sport. And I’ve never stopped running. I feel like a winner tonight, because just like I said, I’ve been running for five years without missing a race. I don’t mind running 10 to 15 races. I’m always there,” she said.

McLaughlin-Levrone credited her competitors for pushing her to the record, even though she didn’t specifically recall what she clocked in her workouts.

“I don’t remember exact times, but it definitely helps to have … someone pushing you, because that’s kind of what it’s going to take, especially in a race like this,” she said.

McLaughlin-Levrone on Tuesday ran a 48.29 in the semifinals, 0.41 seconds faster than Sanya Richards-Ross’ 19-year-old U.S. record.

Femke Bol, who won the 400 hurdles at the Tokyo worlds with McLaughlin-Levrone changing events, had nothing but praise for her former rival.

“It was strange to see her race yesterday night, but it was amazing to see the way that she raced,” said the Dutch star, who surmised her winning performance might not have been possible had McLaughlin-Levrone not opted to skip the event.

“I mean, most likely I wouldn’t be here with the gold medal, but I really love to race against her. She’s the best I think to ever do it in my event, so I would’ve loved to do it. But I also love to see her do so well [in] the 400,” said Bol, who defended her 400 hurdles title in 51.54 seconds on Friday in Tokyo.

McLaughlin-Levrone on Saturday followed up by anchoring the women’s 4×400 relay, helping the U.S. splash around a rain-hit track to gold in a meet-record time of 3:16.61. The decorated McLaughlin-Levrone took a 47.82 jaunt around the track on Sunday’s final day of competition to wrap it up for the Americans.

Isabella Whittaker kicked it off for the United States, and Lynna Irby-Jackson and Aaliyah Butler set up McLaughlin-Levrone for what the anchor called “a victory lap.”

The road to the 2028 Games is long, but McLaughlin-Levrone seems to be on course for more history.