Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s 2025 campaign has been defined by both change and excellence. The reigning two-time Olympic champion in the 400-meter hurdles has committed herself entirely to the open 400 meters this year, stepping away from the event that made her a global force. Her results have been immediate: early-season victories in Kingston (50.32) and Miami (49.69), followed by a 49.93 at the Prefontaine Classic, building momentum toward her decisive 48.90-second win at the USA Track & Field Championships. That performance earned her a second national title in the distance, ranked third in the world this season, and brought her within two-tenths of the American record. It also guaranteed her a place in the 400 meters at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

Her departure from the hurdles has shifted the competitive balance of the event. The absence of her world-record pace leaves a gap that several athletes are ready to pursue, creating a rare moment of openness in a race that has been consistently defined by her dominance. Donovan Bailey, the Olympic sprint champion and veteran analyst, sees an opportunity for others to seize. “All right. Um, so I’m looking forward to see what what Savannah is going to do um versus uh the top uh um the the the top 400 meter hurdles. You know, listen, at the end of the day, if Sydney is not competing, yep. You know what? Savannah win. I mean, at the end of the day, go for the gold plan. Why not?”

Bailey emphasized that his confidence in Savannah does not diminish the ability of established contenders. “I mean, again, I’m not I’m definitely not half stepping on Femke. Not at all. But I’m saying to you that, you know, after a long season, um uh Savannah has not competed since well, she she have competed since the season, then at trials, then she’s jumping in right now in the frying pan with with all the pros. Go get it. Go get it and let them know that uh you’re unafraid of any of them.” His comments underline how McLaughlin-Levrone’s decision has created both pressure and possibility for the rest of the field.

Bailey has also spoken about McLaughlin-Levrone’s stature and the demands of elite competition, describing her as “the most talked about” and “well famous” athlete among her peers. He noted that at the trials, she was “fighting some demons” and stressed that success at the highest level requires complete investment, physical, mental, and psychological. For McLaughlin-Levrone, mastering the 400 meters is a test of both talent and adaptability.

In Tokyo, she will contend with athletes such as Salwa Eid Naser and Marileidy Paulino, who have posted faster times this year. In the hurdles, the title is suddenly within reach for rivals like Femke Bol and Dalilah Muhammad. The season, once predictable in its favorites, now carries a sense of genuine uncertainty in both events.

Femke Bol laments missing Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone clash at worlds

Femke Bol has made no attempt to conceal her regret over the absence of Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone from the 400m hurdles at next month’s World Athletics Championships. The Dutch champion, who has spent much of her career chasing the Americans’ formidable times, spoke with the candor of an athlete who values the contest as much as the outcome. “Maybe it’s a bit of a disappointment. It’s a shame,” she told NOS, a sentiment that underscored her preference for competing against the strongest field available.

Her remarks carried the tone of someone whose respect for a rival outweighs the relief that might come from an easier route to victory. “As a track and field enthusiast, I think it’s great that she’s going to do the 400. But as an athlete, I’d love to run against her,” Bol said. McLaughlin-Levrone’s move to the flat 400m removes one of the most formidable obstacles from Bol’s path, yet also takes away a rare opportunity to measure herself against a competitor she has described as “the very best ever in the event I do.” Such meetings, she noted, have been infrequent, and their scarcity has only heightened their significance.

Bol’s competitive history with McLaughlin-Levrone has been defined by near misses at the highest level, with the American prevailing in each of their Olympic and world final encounters. That reality has not diminished Bol’s appetite for the challenge. “It’s always unique to compete against her. I love it, even though there’s a very good chance I’ll finish second,” she said. The prospect of a second world title is now stronger in McLaughlin-Levrone’s absence, yet for Femke Bol, the sport’s truest satisfaction lies in testing her limits against the most exacting opponent.