'It Hurt' - Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Hints at What Might Have Stopped Her From Breaking 400m World Record in Tokyo

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone reflected on her near-miss in Tokyo, hinting at the factors that may have kept her from breaking the 400m world record.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, arguably the most dominant athlete in track and field today, has revealed what might have stopped her from breaking the 400m world record at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

In the coming days, she will meet with her inner circle, coach Bobby Kersee, husband Andre Levrone, and performance director Malachi Davis, to decide which new challenge to tackle next.

This pivotal discussion comes a month after a remarkable performance in Tokyo, where she became the first woman in the 21st century to run a 400m race in under 48 seconds.

Her achievement shattered the long-held belief that the women's world records set in the 1980s were untouchable.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone: Chasing a Legendary Record

At just 26, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone already boasts nine Olympic and World Championship gold medals and has set five world records in the 400m hurdles. However, it was her recent near-miss in the 400m flat that captured the public's imagination.

Her performance drew immediate comparisons to the grainy 1985 footage of East Germany's Marita Koch, who set the world record of 47.60 seconds.

Koch's time, set during an era of state-sponsored doping, has long been considered untouchable, and while she has always denied cheating, no one had come close to her mark until now.

On a night of swirling wind and rain in Tokyo, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone delivered a majestic performance. The conditions should have protected Koch's record, but when 47.78 seconds flashed on the clock, a gasp went through the stadium. It was the fastest time in four decades, and it signalled that a once ‘eternal’ record is now living on borrowed time.

Since Tokyo, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has been resting, reading George Orwell's "1984," the Bible, and poetry. But when the topic of her 400m time comes up, a competitive glint appears in her eye, suggesting a world record attempt in 2026 is highly likely.

"I'm sure every athlete feels this interesting balance of pride and content, but also discontent, and wanting more," she said in an exclusive interview with the Telegraph.

"I'm already asking Bobby: 'Where's the two-tenths [of a second] at? What did you see that I could have done differently or better?' As a competitor, your mind goes to, 'Man, why couldn't I be two-tenths faster?'"

She remains unsure if the weather cost her the record, noting conditions had been worse earlier. "My biggest worry was, 'Are we going to get all the way to the stadium warmed up and then there's a weather delay?'" she recalled.

"So for it to just be some light rain, I was like: 'This is great.' I'm grateful it wasn't thunder and lightning."

Reflecting on the race, she added, "It was kind of a blur. It hurt. It was hard. But I'm happy with the time. To see it actually pop up on the clock is like, 'Whoa,' because for so long, we just haven't seen a four followed by the seven."

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone: Plans to Compete in the 200m and Long Jump

While she has already redefined the 400m flat and 400m hurdles, the conversation about her future now includes the long jump and the 200m.

This range of possibilities speaks volumes about an athlete who continues to ascend the ranks of the sport's all-time greats. One event she is quick to dismiss is the 800m, an idea floated by World Athletics president Lord Coe.

"I don't know that you'll ever find me step on the line for an 800," McLaughlin-Levrone stated. "I might run one in my lifetime, I'd be curious to know what I would run—but I can't even promise that."

"I've felt 400 hurdle pain. I've felt 400 pain. I don't even know what 800 pain feels like," she explained. "I do love long jump. As a kid, that was probably my favourite event. I don't know what the learning curve would be at this point, but I also know that Bobby coached Jackie [Joyner-Kersee] to the American record. So I'm like, 'If anyone could get me ready, it would probably be him'."

She also expressed a fondness for another event. "I also love the 200. My dad used to say that he thought that was my event when I was a kid. I love just challenging myself, whatever arena I step into."

For now, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is focused on recovery. "I definitely want to take a moment just to enjoy, breathe and take some time off," she concluded. "We take around four to six weeks of just downtime and then assess. The freedom is the relaxation for me." It's a balanced perspective, she admits wasn't always so easy to find.

As global expectations have mounted, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has focused on simplifying her approach.