Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has done it again, pushing the boundaries of track and field by clinching the 400m world title in Tokyo with a truly unforgettable performance. On September 18, the American star ran an impressive 47.78 seconds, making it the second-fastest time ever and breaking a championship record that had stood for 42 years. This victory was far from a solitary affair; pushed by Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino, who herself made history by running 47.98, the race marked the first time two women had ever broken the 48-second barrier.

It’s pretty impressive that McLaughlin-Levrone has snagged her first global title in the flat 400m, especially since she just switched to this event this season looking for a new challenge after totally owning the 400m hurdles. Looking back on her big win, McLaughlin-Levrone shared, “I knew there were a lot of people doubting me with making the switch from 400m hurdles to the flat 400m, but ultimately, I had faith in my training. I knew I had it in me. It definitely helped having Mariledy Paulino in the outer lane where I could see her. But I still had to get the work done. My coach told me to get out of the blocks as fast as possible, not to stay in it for long.”

This recent achievement has really put the 26-year-old in the spotlight, sparking discussions about the top performers in the sport and making comparisons to the iconic Usain Bolt. As highlighted by track and field analyst Kemal Forde on X, the statistical case for her greatness is compelling: “Usain Bolt and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone have the most Championship Records/ World Records in World Athletics Championship History. Usain Bolt~ 100m~ 9.58 WR. Usain Bolt~ 200m~ 19.19 WR. Mens’ 4*100m~ 37.04 CR. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone~ 400m~ 47.78 CR. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone~ 400mH~ 50.68 WR. Womens’ 4*400m~ 3:16.61 CR.”

Forde’s analysis highlights that McLaughlin-Levrone has now snagged the World Record in the 400m hurdles with a time of 50.68 and also holds the Championship Record in the flat 400m at 47.78. This impressive feat puts her in an elite category, right up there with Bolt, who set those legendary world records in the 100m and 200m. This strong performance in various one-lap events really highlights a versatility that’s pretty uncommon in the sport. It’s not just about the numbers; her presence gives off that same vibe that Bolt had throughout his career.

Last year, retired sprinter Justin Gatlin pointed out this similarity, saying that, just like Bolt, “You gonna get bored of that Sydney winning everything. Sydney win every race. You gonna get bored of it to the point where her time is not even gonna affect you anymore.” So, the big question now is, what barrier will Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone go after next? And the track athlete has shared her future goals.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone opens up about her future in track and field

In Tokyo, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone not only snagged a gold medal but also became the second-fastest woman ever in the event, right after Marita Koch’s world record of 47.60 seconds set back in 1985. She felt really “honored” to achieve this, and she mentioned, “Definitely wasn’t expecting that time, but it just shows the fitness is there. Excited for the finals and grateful to have taken down a record by an amazing woman.” With these big achievements under her belt, it’s only natural to think about what’s next for the 26-year-old superstar.

During an interview with People magazine, McLaughlin-Levrone expressed her feelings, saying, “At the moment, I think just kind of enjoying this one. I think there’s always something you could improve upon, whether that’s going back to the 400 hurdles to try to break 50 or trying again for this world record, or whatever it is, there’s always something we could focus on.”

Indeed, she has a couple of exciting options ahead of her. She could return to her signature event, the 400m hurdles, where she already holds the world record at 50.37 seconds and might aim to break that amazing 50-second barrier. Alternatively, she could continue her quest to tackle the tough flat 400m world record. As we get closer to LA 2028, Team USA is looking really strong in both the women’s 400m and 400m hurdles, especially with McLaughlin-Levrone in the mix.