American Legend on Why Marileidy Paulino and Co Should Be Very Afraid of Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone

American sprint legend Justin Gatlin has explained how Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone was able to floor a stacked field to win the 400m final at the USATF World Athletics Championships trials, despite it being her secondary event.

McLaughlin-Levrone, who has already cemented her status as perhaps the greatest 400 meter hurdler of all time, having smashed the world record six times and won two Olympic titles, chose to take part in the 400 meters instead at the tournament.

The win of 48.90 puts her within touching distance of the world lead this year, a 48.67 by reigning Olympic silver medallist Salwa Eid Naser.

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McLaughlin-Levrone got out strong in the opening bend at the iconic Hayward Field track, and never looked in any great danger. She led Lynna Irby-Jackson by two strides as they rounded the final straightaway, then built a stronger lead over the final 100 metres.

McLaughlin-Levrone was just two tenths off of Sanya Richards-Ross' American record of 48.70. Richards-Ross is the London 2012 champion in the 400m after claiming silver at Beijing 2008.

Speaking on his Ready Set Go podcast, former world 100m champion Justin Gatlin praised the tactical savvy and raw execution of McLaughlin-Levrone’s race.

“She knows what she’s doing,” Gatlin said. “To declare for the 400 and not the 400 hurdles — she definitely had a couple of tricks up her sleeve. And she showed a glimpse of that with that 48.90 — and did it in such a grand fashion, commanding the race.”

Gatlin, who competed at the highest level for nearly two decades, noted the key difference in Sydney’s stride pattern now that she’s focusing on the flat sprint.

“She doesn’t have that choppy cadence like she’s running between hurdles. She’s all-out sprinting now. She realizes, ‘I’ve got to move. I’ve gotta go.’

With a potential showdown looming at the World Championships, Gatlin says McLaughlin-Levrone is more than capable of going toe-to-toe with the best.

“She’s going to have to go up against the likes of Naser and Marileidy Paulino, and those two can sprint. But I think Sydney can go into that race, mix it up with them, and handle business. She’s a championship athlete — we know she can get the job done.”

Podcast co-host and analyst Rodney Greene also weighed in, highlighting how McLaughlin-Levrone’s performance is not only elite but also a challenge accepted — a test against the deepest field she’s ever faced outside the hurdles.

“She’s putting herself in a position to be challenged,” Greene said. “She knows she’s the world’s number one in the 400m hurdles, but in the flat 400, she’s got a lot more competition.”

Greene pointed out that the competition extends beyond Paulino and Naser.

“People are forgetting about Natalia Kaczmarek from Poland. She has the power to go 48 — she did it at the Olympics. That final had three women run sub-49. So for Sydney to win at Worlds, it’s going to be a tall order.”

While many fans are eager to see a rematch between McLaughlin-Levrone and Paulino — who won silver in Tokyo and gold at the 2023 World Championships — both analysts cautioned against overlooking Salwa Eid Naser, the 2019 world champion who holds a lifetime best of 48.14, and is rounding back into form.

McLaughlin-Levrone’s win in Eugene was not just fast — it was authoritative. She opened strong, held a two-stride lead coming off the final bend, and widened that margin over the final 100 meters to cross the line well ahead of the competition. 

Only the legendary Sanya Richards-Ross’ national record now stands in her way on the U.S. all-time list.

With the World Championships approaching fast, and the 2024 Paris Olympics on the horizon, McLaughlin-Levrone has made one thing clear: whether it’s over hurdles or on the flat, she’s here to compete — and to win.