Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has qualified for the 400m gold medal race in sensational style, winning her semi-final in a U.S. record and world lead time of 48.29 seconds at the 2025 World Athletics Championships on Tuesday 16 September.
Her victory sets up a showdown against Paris 2024 and world champion Marileidy Paulino and this year’s fastest woman, Salwa Eid Naser, who both came through their semi-finals to secure spots in Thursday’s final.
But it is the manner of McLaughlin-Levrone’s win that will send shockwaves around the track & field world.
Not only has she shown she is a real threat for a medal, she will now be favourite for gold in Thursday’s final.
McLaughlin-Levrone has made a habit of winning, but raised eyebrows when she swapped the one-lap hurdles – an event in which she is the world record holder – for the challenge of the 400m flat at this year’s Worlds.
More to follow…