sydney 400m/” title=”Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Shines at American Selections with World's Best Performance in the …”>McLaughlin-Levrone Wins 400m World Title in Thrilling Tokyo Finish
TOKYO, JAPAN – SEPTEMBER 18, 2025 – Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of Team United States claimed gold in the Women’s 400 Meters Final at the world Athletics Championships in Tokyo today, finishing with a time that nearly challenged Marita Koch’s longstanding world record. McLaughlin-Levrone finished ahead of Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic,who took silver,and Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain,who earned bronze.
The race unfolded as a tactical battle from the start, with McLaughlin-Levrone, Paulino, and Eid Naser all employing a fast early pace. McLaughlin-Levrone split the first 200 meters in 22.95 seconds, with Paulino (23.09) and Eid Naser (23.13) close behind.
Through 300 meters,McLaughlin-Levrone maintained a narrow lead in 34.87, followed closely by Paulino at 34.97. In the final stretch, McLaughlin-Levrone extended her advantage, though Paulino mounted a strong finish from lane nine, nearly closing the gap.
mclaughlin-Levrone’s victory positions her to potentially become the first American to win two world titles in the 400-metre dash should she continue competing. She is also considering attempting to compete in both the 400-meter hurdles and 400-meter dash at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, a feat never before accomplished by any athlete.
Prior to this race, Eid Naser’s 2019 Doha time of 48.14 seconds was the fastest in the event since 1985. Paulino herself boasts an remarkable record, including one Olympic gold, two Olympic silvers, and three Diamond League Final wins.
The next World Athletics Outdoor Championships will be held in Beijing, China, in 2027.
Fans can relive the race on the NBC YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/z-5pScPguww?si=Plwn3JRNmOv9WMGw. Live results and the full competition schedule are available on the World Athletics website: https://worldathletics.org/en/competitions/world-athletics-championships/tokyo25/results.