Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has once again made headlines—but not for blazing across the finish line in her usual fashion. Instead, the reigning 400m hurdles world record holder has stirred speculation and surprise by opting to compete only in the 400m flat at the 2025 USATF Outdoor Championships. With the entry deadline now closed, this decision could significantly impact her presence in the hurdles at the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s absence from the 400m hurdles lineup at the U.S. trials means she’s forgoing the standard qualification route for her signature event. Normally, the top three finishers at the trials earn spots at Worlds. However, as the reigning world champion, McLaughlin-Levrone is eligible for an automatic wildcard berth. Still, the choice not to race the hurdles domestically this season has left fans and experts puzzled—and concerned.
The timing couldn’t be more critical. Her top rival, Dutch sensation Femke Bol, has been in stellar form, recently clocking a world-leading 51.95 seconds in Monaco. Bol has long chased McLaughlin-Levrone’s dominance in the event and now may finally see a path to gold should the American star sit out the hurdles in Tokyo.
To date, McLaughlin-Levrone has never lost to Bol in head-to-head 400m hurdles matchups, holding a commanding 3-0 record. Their most recent clash came on the grandest stage—the 2024 Paris Olympics—where McLaughlin-Levrone shattered her own world record, winning gold in a stunning 50.37 seconds. That performance not only solidified her legacy but also widened the gap between her and Bol, who finished with silver.
Given that history, a showdown in Tokyo was highly anticipated as one of the marquee rivalries in athletics. Yet McLaughlin-Levrone’s pivot toward the 400m flat raises questions about her current priorities and long-term strategy. Could she be aiming to broaden her dominance across both events? Or is she managing her workload and health as she prepares for the final stretch of the Olympic cycle?
What’s clear is that the stakes are high. The decision to skip her primary event at the trials doesn’t necessarily rule her out of the World Championships 400m hurdles field, but it does introduce risk. If for any reason her wildcard entry isn’t secured or exercised, the world could be denied one of the sport’s most electric rivalries on the global stage.
Meanwhile, Bol remains focused and prepared. With McLaughlin-Levrone’s status uncertain, the Dutch athlete is poised to seize what could be a golden opportunity—both literally and figuratively. Without Sydney in the field, Bol instantly becomes the favorite, and a win would be a major milestone in her already impressive career.
For now, all eyes are on McLaughlin-Levrone. Will she double and defend her hurdles title in Tokyo? Or will her ambitions in the 400m flat take precedence? As the countdown to Worlds begins, the track and field community can only wait—and hope—for a clash of champions.