Gabby Thomas and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone are likely to break history and join the elusive club of American 3X Olympic Champions.

Gabby Thomas & Sydney McLauglin-Levrone Could Do What No American Woman Did Since 1988

Imagine sprinting 100 meters faster than most people can tie their shoes, then doubling that distance in under 22 seconds, and still having the stamina to blaze through a 400-meter lap in less than 49 seconds. That’s the kind of jaw-dropping versatility we’re talking about—a feat so rare that only four women in track and field history have ever achieved it. The last American to do it? Valerie Brisco-Hooks, back in 1988. Now, two American track stars, Gabby Thomas and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, are on the cusp of joining this exclusive club in 2025. Can they pull it off? The interesting fact was shared with Athletics Weekly yesterday, April 7, 2025, on their X handle, along with raising a question after the recently finished Kingston phase of the Grand Slam Track. The tweet captioned, “Only four women: 🇧🇸 Shaunae Miller-Uibo 🇫🇷 Marie-José Perec 🇺🇸 Valerie Brisco-Hooks 🇩🇪 Marita Koch Have gone sub-11 (100m), sub-22 (200m) and sub-49 (400m) in history. Could Gabby Thomas (or Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone) join the elusive club this year?” The benchmark involves three events: running the 100 meters in under 11 seconds (sub-11), the 200 meters in under 22 seconds (sub-22), and the 400 meters in under 49 seconds (sub-49). These times aren’t just fast—they’re superhuman. For context, a sub-11 100m is a world-class sprint, often seen in Olympic finals. A sub-22 200m requires blistering speed and endurance, like what Gabby Thomas showed when she won the 200m Olympic gold in 2024 with a time of 21.83 seconds. And a sub-49 400m? That’s a grueling lap around the track, demanding both speed and stamina, a mark Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has already crushed with her 48.75-second performance in 2024. The last American woman to hit all three marks in track and field history was Valerie Brisco-Hooks, who did it between 1984 and 1986, with a 10.99 100m, a 21.81 200m, and a 48.83 400m. Since then, no American has matched her versatility. Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Marie-José Perec, and Marita Koch round out the exclusive list, but in 2025, Gabby or Sydney could rewrite history. So, where do Gabby and Sydney stand? Gabby Thomas, the 2024 200m Olympic champion, has already gone sub-22 in the 200m (21.81 at the 2023 World Championships) and recently ran a 49.68-second 400m in April 2024 at the Texas Invitational. Her 100m personal best, however, sits at 10.99 seconds—agonizingly close to sub-11. If she can shave off a fraction of a second, she’s in the club. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the 400m hurdles world record holder, is even closer. She ran a 48.75-second 400m and a 21.92-second 200m in 2024, both under the thresholds. Her 100m best is 11.13 seconds, but with her raw speed—she beat Gabby in a 200m race in 2024—she’s got a real shot at dipping below 11. Both are in peak form—Gabby’s coming off a Grand Slam Track win [https://www.essentiallysports.com/olympics-track-and-field-news-gabby-thomas-coach-pens-emotional-message-for-track-and-field-star-after-hundred-thousand-dollars-win-in-jamaica/], and Sydney’s fresh off a hurdles “Slam” title. The question isn’t if they can do it, but when. Also, other track and field athletes have already achieved the impressive trifecta. Who are those sprinters? OTHER TRACK AND FIELD SPRINTERS WITH AN IMPRESSIVE TRIFECTA OF SUB-10, SUB-20, AND SUB-44 SECONDS In the world of track and field, achieving a trifecta of sub-10 seconds in the 100m, sub-20 seconds in the 200m, and sub-44 seconds in the 400m is a rare and remarkable feat. This elite club showcases sprinters with unparalleled speed and versatility across distances, and as of April 2025, three men have accomplished this. Those are Fred Kerley, Wayde van Niekerk, and Michael Norman. Fred Kerley joined this exclusive group with a standout performance in the 200m, where he ran his first sub-20-second time (19.90s) to finish fourth at a major championship. Kerley’s other credentials include a 9.84-second 100m, earning him an Olympic silver in Tokyo 2021, and a 43.64-second 400m, which secured a bronze at the 2019 World Championships in Doha. His ability to compete at the highest level across all three events makes him a standout, especially given his background training with ALTIS in Phoenix under coach Kevin Tyler. Wayde van Niekerk, often hailed as one of the most versatile sprinters ever in track and field, was the first to achieve this trifecta. According to TheTopTens.com, he’s the only athlete to run sub-10 (9.94s in 2017), sub-20 (19.84s in 2017), and sub-44 (43.03s in 2016, also a world record) in the 100m, 200m, and 400m, respectively. Van Niekerk’s 400m world record, set at the 2016 Rio Olympics, remains one of the most iconic moments in track history. He’s also the only sprinter to add a sub-31-second 300m to his resume, clocking 30.81s in 2017, further solidifying his legacy. Michael Norman, the third member, achieved the trifecta with a 9.86-second 100m, a 19.70-second 200m, and a 43.45-second 400m. Norman’s 400m personal best came during his 2019 season, where he also won the Diamond League title. His consistency across distances, paired with his NCAA achievements—like a 43.61s 400m at the 2018 NCAA Championships—marks him as a generational talent. These three sprinters exemplify the pinnacle of speed and endurance, blending raw power with technical mastery. Their achievements continue to inspire the next generation of track stars to chase this elusive trifecta. 

Vineet Nandwana is an NBA editor at EssentiallySports. With over half a decade of experience as a writer and editor in a multitude of fields including film production and sports journalism, Vineet brings his diverse experience to the ES editorial desk. As he follows the best editorial practices, Vineet makes sure to produce top-notch content that resonates with the American audience and gives them the forefront view of the nooks and crannies of their favorite athletes.

Vineet Nandwana

Gabby Thomas &#038; Sydney McLauglin-Levrone Could Do What No American Woman Did Since 1988

https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Gabby-Thomas-and-Sydney-2.jpg

Comment

Home

TRACK AND FIELD

EssentiallySports is a U.S.-based sports media platform built for modern fandom. We go beyond headlines to create storylines powered by athletes, fans, data, and culture, giving equal energy to the mainstream and the overlooked.

Harit Pathak

Suryansh Tibarewal

Jaskirat Arora

EssentiallySports

A Journalism and Mass Communication graduate, Ujwal Mattoo, is the Tennis Editor at EssentiallySports. His passion for the sport ignited by the captivating rivalries of legends like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Serena Williams. Inspired by their grace and intensity, Ujwal developed a deep appreciation for the unique blend of mental and physical fortitude required in tennis. He has closely followed the ATP and WTA circuits, analyzing matches and tracking players' journeys with keen interest. When not immersed in the world of tennis, Ujwal enjoys spending time with his dog and cherishing moments with friends.

https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Ujwal-Mattoo-Editor-150x150.png

Gabby Thomas & Sydney McLauglin-Levrone Could Do What No American Woman Did Since 1988

Gabby Thomas & Sydney McLauglin-Levrone Could Do What No American Woman Did Since 1988

Other Track and field sprinters with an impressive trifecta of sub-10, sub-20, and sub-44 seconds