Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s amazing win in the women’s 400m final at the 2025 Tokyo World Championships was something special. She broke a 42-year-old championship record with a time of 47.78 seconds, making it the second-fastest in history. It was a moment of pure athletic brilliance that really caught the attention of fans around the world.

But, you know, there’s more to the story than just the race itself. Her husband, Andre Levrone Jr., a former NFL player, showed such incredible support and emotion throughout it all. His actions during and after the race really deserve a shout-out too. As reported by NBC Sports’ Director of Social Media, Travis Miller, on X, “Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s husband was going crazy watching her win the 400m world title.”

The camera caught him leaning in, cheering excitedly, and reacting to every step McLaughlin-Levrone made. “Go Syd, go!” and “Come on, Syd!” were the two iconic phrases that the National Stadium could hear from none other than her husband. He carried himself with pride, showing that he really understood what was at stake, probably because of his own experiences as a professional athlete.

His happy outbursts and the kiss after the race with the words “come here, girl” were more than just gestures; they showed that they had both won, just as McLaughlin-Levrone said a long time before that he was her “biggest hype man” and a rock of stability.

Levrone Jr., also known as “Black Thor” because of his imposing yet calming presence, has given Sydney more than just support. “I really feel like the Lord knew what he was doing when he brought the two of us together,” she said, talking about her husband, who not only shares her faith but also gets the intense isolation that comes with professional sports. They started off with a friendly Instagram direct message, and as they got to know each other better through their shared faith and those late-night Bible studies, their connection really grew. It’s all about being intentional and sharing the same values. However, just how incredible was her performance in Tokyo?

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone became the star of the show

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone clinched the victory in a fierce race, facing off against some serious contenders. Marileidy Paulino, the reigning Olympic champ from the Dominican Republic, finished in second place with a time of 47.98, while Salwa Eid Naser from Bahrain took home the bronze with a time of 48.19. It’s pretty wonderful that the American athlete’s wins made her the first to snag world titles in both the 400m hurdles and the flat 400m. It really highlights how versatile and dominant she is in the sport.

McLaughlin-Levrone was really emotional when she crossed the finish line; she just couldn’t hold back the tears. She really nailed it out there, showing amazing strength and composure, especially considering how tough the weather was.

The sprinter really took charge of the situation, starting off in lane 5 and quickly closing the gap with her competitors before powering through in the final stretch. This win didn’t just add a new, significant chapter to her career; it also helped her become one of the greatest track athletes ever.