'I want to be the best well-rounded athlete' - Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone reveals decision to run the 400m at Tokyo 2025

Olympic 400mH champion and world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has revealed why she decided to run the 400m instead of her trademark event at the Tokyo 2025 World Championships.

Speaking with Olympics.com ahead of the world championships, the American hurdling queen stated the decision was made out of the sheer will to be the best well-rounded athlete she can be.

"I think it felt like the right thing to do just because I want to be the best well-rounded athlete I can be, and this is one of those challenges that I think I have been putting off for myself," she said.

McLaughlin-Levrone has been one of the most dominant athletes in the history of the sport, as she has stayed undefeated in the women's 400m Hurdles since 2022, setting multiple world records in her name.

The two-time Olympic gold medallist remains the first female hurdler in history to go under the sub-52s and sub-51s mark, making her the greatest hurdler in the event's history.

With all her goals finally under her belt, McLaughlin-Levrone decided to step away from her comfort zone and opt to the 400m flat this season.

She qualified for the Tokyo 2025 World Championships after winning the US trials, and her personal best of 48.74s is the second-fastest in American history.

With Tokyo 2025 set to pose a stiffer challenge, having faster and more experienced competitors in Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino and 2019 world champion Salwa Eid Naser, McLaughlin-Levrone said she's ready for the challenge.

"I wanted to step out in a different way, and so I think there was a bit of apprehension at first of 'Do we really want to take that step?' But I want to compete and I want to compete well and against the best and push myself to be the best that I can be. So it definitely is uncomfortable, but its rewarding to carve new paths," she concluded.

McLaughlin-Levrone is the third-fastest in the world this season (48.90s) behind Naser (48.67s) and Paulino (48.81s). Their highly anticipated showdown in Tokyo is expected to be a firecracker, in which any of them is capable of claiming the world title.