After an impressive 2025 season, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone reflected on her near-record 400m run and shared her determination to break the women’s 400m flat world record soon. At the World Championships in Tokyo, she clocked 47.78 seconds, just shy of Marita Koch’s longstanding 47.60-second record.
What Message Did Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Send About Breaking The 400m World Record?
McLaughlin-Levrone already holds the world record in the 400m hurdles, recording a time of 50.37 seconds at the Paris Olympics in 2024. While she didn’t break the 400m flat record, the conditions under which Koch set the record are seen as controversial due to allegations of state-sponsored doping during her era, with many doubting the validity of her record.
She “definitely” thinks she can run faster in the 400, while becoming the first woman to run under 50 seconds in the 400 hurdles is always in the back of my mind,” she said in an interview with NBC News.
“Those are both things that I often think about and look at,” McLaughlin-Levrone said. “Of course, you can’t pursue everything at one time. You got to take it one at a time and allow your body to really gear up to race some of these really fast races. But yeah, I definitely still think I’d love to dip under 50 at some point, if time permits, and run faster in the 400 and try to go for that longstanding record.”
As she takes time to rest ahead of next season, breaking the 400m world record remains her clear focus. Having repeatedly set new records in the 400m hurdles, her dedication signals that pursuing Koch’s record is a major goal.
McLaughlin-Levrone Remains ‘Grateful’ Despite Not Breaking 400m World Record
McLaughlin-Levrone ended her impressive season with two gold medals at the World Championships in Tokyo and a Diamond League win. She expressed satisfaction about her year in an interview with the Telegraph despite not breaking the 400m world record:
“I’m sure every athlete to a degree feels this interesting balance of pride and content, but also discontent, and wanting more; it’s this back and forth. As a competitor, your mind goes to, ‘Man, like why couldn’t I be two-tenths faster?’ But I’m also super grateful for the leaps and bounds we were able to make this season.”
After her impressive performances, McLaughlin-Levrone was nominated for the World Athletics Female Track Athlete of the Year Award alongside her 400m hurdles rival, Femke Bol. She has already won this award, winning it at the 2022 edition of the awards.