McLaughlin-Levrone runs fastest women’s 400m world championship race in nearly 40 years

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone won world championship gold in the women’s 400 metres on September 18, 2025, with a time of 47.78 seconds, the fastest in nearly 40 years. The American, who transitioned from hurdles, beat Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. The result was also only 0.18 seconds shy of the world record set by Marita Koch in 1985.