TOKYO – If the 2024 Olympic season was about perfection in her signature event, 2025 was the year Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone proved she is a master of the entire track. In a season defined by versatility and a historic assault on the record books, the American superstar ended the year not just as a champion, but as the author of one of the greatest individual seasons in athletic history.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s year began with a bold statement on the Grand Slam Track (GST) circuit. Eschewing the comfort of the hurdles, she tested her raw speed against specialists in the 100m and 100m hurdles. The results were immediate: a personal best of 11.21s for second place in her first 100m sprint in seven years, followed by a gritty 12.70s in the short hurdles.
The Pivot to the Flat 400m
As the summer peaked, McLaughlin-Levrone made a high-stakes decision to commit fully to the flat 400m. The move was met with skepticism by some, as the event was enjoying a “renaissance” led by world-class titans Marileidy Paulino and Salwa Eid Naser.
Undeterred, she dominated the US Championships with a world-leading 48.90s, coming within a breath of Sanya Richards-Ross’s 19-year-old American record. It was a clear warning shot to the world: the “Hurdles Queen” was coming for the flat crown.
Glory in Tokyo
The World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025 served as the ultimate stage for her transformation. In the semifinals, she shattered the American record with a blistering 48.29s. However, it was the final that etched her name into the pantheon of legends.
Under the Tokyo lights, McLaughlin-Levrone took control from the opening block. She crossed the line in an incredible 47.78s, obliterating a 42-year-old Championship Record—the oldest remaining record in World Championship history. The performance made her the second-fastest woman of all time, trailing only Marita Koch’s 1985 world record of 47.60s.
A Legacy Cemented
To cap off her historic run, she anchored the US women’s 4x400m relay team to gold, securing a meet record of 3:16.61. By winning world titles in both the 400m hurdles (2022) and the flat 400m (2025), she became the first athlete to achieve such a dual-event mastery at the world level.
As the 2025 season closes, McLaughlin-Levrone stands alone. She has silenced the doubters, redefined the limits of the quarter-mile, and moved within striking distance of a world record once thought untouchable.