'A Huge Undertaking' -Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone on Challenge of Doubling in Both Flat 400m, 400mH in Future

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone admits the prospect of doubling in the flat 400m and 400m hurdles in future championships would be “a huge undertaking,” even as she continues to redefine sprinting excellence.

The American superstar underlined her versatility in Tokyo 2025 by storming to gold in the women’s 400m, setting a new championship record of 47.78, ahead of Marileidy Paulino, who also clocked sub 48 seconds but had to settle for silver after opting to skip her signature 400m hurdles event. 

She has already cemented her legacy as the greatest 400 meter hurdles runner of all time, having smashed the world record an astonishing six times, but now questions are being raised as to whether she is capable of handling the demands of both events at the same time in future.

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Her decision raised eyebrows, but the result vindicated her gamble — proving she can dominate outside her specialist discipline.

When asked about the possibility of doubling in both events at a future global competition, McLaughlin-Levrone admitted it is something she has thought about but remains cautious.

“There’s a lot of talk about doubles. I think it is possible is one thing — do I want to do it is another,” she told CITIUS Mag.

 “Those are two really hard events with really great fields. You cannot discredit any of those women. So yeah, that’s a big undertaking. I just take it one race at a time.”

The 25-year-old, who already holds multiple world records in the 400m hurdles, stressed that any decision would depend on her long-term goals and the championship schedule.

Reflecting on her 400m triumph in Tokyo, McLaughlin-Levrone said the victory carried extra weight given the obstacles she has faced in recent seasons, including injuries.

“I definitely knew it was going to be a challenge. Of course, the injury in 2023 stopped me a little bit, but it was about persistence.

“ I wanted to stay diligent in where I felt the Lord had me,” she explained. “Last night was amazing — I’m really grateful for how everything turned out. I can only thank the Lord.”

With her latest performance, McLaughlin-Levrone has sent a powerful message to her rivals: she is not only the greatest 400m hurdler of all time, but also a formidable force in the flat 400m. 

Whether she attempts the unprecedented double in future championships remains to be seen — but her dominance in Tokyo suggests that, if she chooses, she may well be capable of pulling it off.