Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Sidelines Marileidy Paulino and Salwa Eid Naser Rivalry to Reveal Real Goal in Tokyo

After dominating the 400m hurdles, shattering records, including a world-record 50.37s at the Paris Olympics, the queen of hurdles, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, is trading hurdles for a flat 400m challenge. At the USATF Outdoor Championships in Eugene, she powered past the field with a stunning 48.90s, securing her golden ticket for the Tokyo World Championships. While rivals like Marileidy Paulino and Salwa Eid Naser are eager to topple the hurdles queen, Sydney isn’t fazed; rather, her sights are set higher: chasing the 400m world record.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone was spotted in Tokyo during her first track session, where reporters quickly gathered to get a word from the 400m hurdles queen. When asked if training in Tokyo’s heat felt any better, she replied, “I was loosening up my body and checking my condition.” Her session featured light jogging, hurdle drills, and box work, an impressive routine as she gears up for the big day. During that conversation, the reporters asked will she would keep an eye on her competitors, to which she stated, “Of course, I keep an eye on them. But it’s not something I can control. At the end of the day, I just focus on running my own race.”

Sprinting is her forte, and that’s where her focus lies for now. But what she said next could stun not just you, but her rivals as well. She revealed her ambition to shatter the long-standing world record set by East German legend Marita Koch (47.60s) back in 1985. “It’s a pretty old record. Someone will definitely break it when the time comes. Everything is possible; there is no limit. Anyway, I will do my best to run a perfect race. I look forward to everyone coming to watch the race!” It’s no surprise that she is targeting the record, considering she wants her name to echo in the 400m race as well. However, for now, she is being overshadowed by Marileidy Paulino, while the biggest star in the game remains Salwa Eid Naser.

To put things into perspective, the World Athletics record book has Marita Koch reigning supreme, with Salwa Eid Naser in third at 48.14s and Marileidy Paulino right behind at 48.17s, both ruling the 400m for years. In comparison, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone sits 12th with 48.74s. Do the math, and she’s just 0.14 seconds away from cracking the top three and 1.14 seconds shy of breaking Koch’s legendary world record, a razor-thin margin in the world of sprinting.

The numbers may seem small, but in the world of sprinting, milliseconds can make all the difference, especially when rivals keep shattering records. This isn’t McLaughlin-Levrone’s first attempt at history. In 2023, she shifted her focus solely to the 400m, eyeing the Budapest World Championships, but a knee injury sidelined those plans. Still, she faced Paulino head-on, and despite a strong push, finished second with 49.71 seconds, as Paulino stormed to victory in 49.12.

She’s out for revenge, but her opponent isn’t the only threat. Bahrain’s rising force is already turning up the heat, and even McLaughlin-Levrone admits the road ahead won’t be easy.

“Difficult challenge,” said Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, ahead of Tokyo Championships

At the Diamond League finale, Salwa Eid Naser delivered a blistering 48.70 to smash the meet record and clinch her third title. She outpaced reigning champion Marileidy Paulino, who clocked 49.23, while Norway’s Henriette Jæger shattered her national record with 49.49 for third. Naser’s time not only eclipsed Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s 48.74 lifetime best from 2023 but also reaffirmed her supremacy in the 400m.

The competition is fierce, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone knows it all too well. Speaking about the road ahead, the star athlete admitted, “It’s certainly a difficult challenge, as everyone says, but I wanted to challenge myself in a different way. I wanted to show that you can put yourself in a position where you’re scared, embrace it, and achieve your goals.”

Sydney McLaughlin’s 400m quest kicks off with prelims on Day 2, semifinals on Day 4, and the grand finale on Day 6, all scheduled for the afternoon sessions. With Tokyo in her sights, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will be looking to take on her opponents; however, will she be able to fight off such speed set by both Paulino and Eid Naser? Time will tell.