Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Dominates 400m at U.S. Trials, Punches Ticket to Tokyo World Championships
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the reigning queen of the 400m hurdles, has made yet another bold and breathtaking statement—this time in a different event. On Saturday at the U.S. Olympic Trials held at Eugene’s iconic Hayward Field, the 25-year-old track sensation stormed to victory in the women’s 400m flat with a blistering time of 48.90 seconds, officially securing her place at the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo.
While McLaughlin-Levrone is already celebrated as the greatest 400m hurdler in history—holding the world record and two Olympic gold medals—this year, she decided to pivot her focus and chase new challenges. Her decision to move away from the event in which she is virtually untouchable raised eyebrows across the athletics world. But if Saturday’s performance is any indication, she’s more than ready to take the flat 400m by storm.
This shift in her career didn’t come lightly. Speaking after her win, McLaughlin-Levrone explained that the choice to focus on the 400m flat was made shortly before July’s Prefontaine Classic Diamond League meet. “Going into Pre we had an idea we wanted to focus on the 400,” she shared. “This is a challenge. It’s not as comfortable for us, but I wanted to challenge myself.”
For McLaughlin-Levrone, comfort was never the goal. Her dominance in the 400m hurdles includes achievements that rewrote the record books. She became the first woman to break the 52-second barrier in 2021 and went on to break 51 seconds just a year later. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she crushed her own world record with a legendary performance that left fans and experts speechless. Yet, despite—or perhaps because of—this dominance, she has chosen to venture outside her comfort zone.
“I felt like this is the year I wanted to step out of the box and really push myself in a different way,” she said. “It’s uncomfortable, but I’m committed to it. And I’m excited to see where I can push myself.”
There had been speculation that she might still attempt to qualify for the 400m hurdles through the Diamond League finals later this month. However, McLaughlin-Levrone firmly ruled that out. “No, we’ll focus just on the 400,” she confirmed. “That’s a daunting task in and of itself. It’s a very competitive field, and I want to make sure I can give my all to those races.”
While fans may miss seeing her in the hurdles this year, her transition to the 400m flat appears to be a natural evolution. And if her first major outing in the event is any indication, the competition should take note.
McLaughlin-Levrone led from the front, seizing the lead in the first 200 meters and unleashing another gear down the final straight to pull away decisively. She crossed the line well ahead of the competition, with Isabella Whittaker finishing second in 49.59 seconds and Aaliyah Butler rounding out the top three in 49.91 seconds.
Despite her dominant run, Sydney remains grounded. She’s not fixated on breaking records—at least not yet. “Everyone talks about the American record of course. That’s going to come when it’s supposed to come,” she said. “This year and this event have taught me patience. I’ve learned a lot about myself. I’ve learned a lot about the 400.”
For McLaughlin-Levrone, this journey is about more than medals or times—it’s about personal growth and embracing discomfort. And with Tokyo on the horizon, the world is once again watching her redefine what’s possible on the track.
Whether it’s over hurdles or on the flat, one thing is clear: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is a force of nature—and she’s
just getting started.