Why Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone's Switch to the 400m Changes Everything

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s dominance in track and field is unquestionable. She faces a new challenge by entering a very competitive 400m field in Tokyo.

Aug 6, 2025 by Nia Gibson

Why Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone's Switch to the 400m Changes Everything

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s dominance in track and field is unquestionable. Since breaking the world record in the 400m hurdles in 2021, she has gone on to lower it six times—most recently clocking 50.37 at the Paris Olympic Games last August. In that event, she is a two-time Olympic champion and a world champion, sitting in a class entirely her own.

But McLaughlin-Levrone’s talent extends well beyond the hurdles. She boasts personal bests of 11.07 in the 100m, 22.07 in the 200m, 12.65 in the 100m hurdles, and most notably, 48.74 in the open 400m, just 0.04 seconds off the American record set by Sanya Richards-Ross in 2006.

Now, for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, McLaughlin-Levrone has chosen to forego the 400m hurdles in favor of the flat 400m; a major shift that carries wide-ranging implications.

The Impact on the 400m Field

The U.S. has long been home to a deep pool of talented quarter-milers, but when was the last time American women truly dominated the open 400m at a global championship outside of the 4x400m relay? The last American woman to win a world title in the 400m was Phyllis Francis in 2017.

That could change this year with McLaughlin-Levrone entering the mix.

A New Kind of Challenge for Sydney

We haven’t seen McLaughlin-Levrone appear vulnerable in a race since the 2019 World Championships in Doha, where Dalilah Muhammad edged her out in the 400m hurdles final. But this year’s 400m presents a different kind of test.

Gold—or even silver—isn’t guaranteed. Marileidy Paulino, the reigning Olympic and World Champion, has already run 48.81 this season. Salwa Eid Naser is also back in top form, clocking 48.67. McLaughlin-Levrone enters Tokyo with a season’s best of 48.90, set at the 2025 USA National Championships.

For the first time in a long time, it may not be her race to lose.

The 400m Hurdles Is Wide Open Again

McLaughlin-Levrone’s absence from the 400m hurdles field reintroduces a sense of unpredictability to the event.

Femke Bol, currently the top-ranked hurdler in the world, will be a favorite—but recall that she had to settle for bronze in Paris after a stunning late surge by American Anna Cockrell. Dalilah Muhammad, competing in what she’s announced as her final season, has been in top form. And Jasmine Jones is having a sensational breakout year in her first professional campaign.

Without McLaughlin-Levrone, the event is no longer a foregone conclusion—it’s truly anyone’s race.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s decision to focus on the 400m this season adds a fascinating layer to both sprint events. She’s taking on a new challenge, and the ripple effects are already being felt across the sport.

One thing is certain: all eyes will be on Tokyo.

Don’t Miss A Second Of The 2025 Diamond League

This year, the Diamond League is streaming live on FloTrack and the FloSports app, and FloTrack is giving fans more Diamond League access than ever before.

For the first time, the Diamond League is streaming to fans all the feeds, not just the traditional world feed.

Fans will have uninterrupted coverage for every throw, leap and run during the meets as well as the traditional broadcast.

Where To Watch Diamond League?

The Wanda Diamond League will be broadcast on FloTrack and the FloSports app starting with the 2025 season.

FloTrack Archived Footage

Video footage from each event will be archived and stored in a video library for FloTrack subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.

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