Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Chooses New Challenge in 400m Flat Ahead of 2025 World Championships

Olympic 400m hurdles champion and world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has made a bold and surprising announcement ahead of the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo — she will not compete in her signature event, the 400m hurdles.

Instead, the American will pursue gold in the open 400m flat, challenging herself in a race that she says pushes her outside of her comfort zone.

McLaughlin-Levrone's decision comes on the heels of her electrifying victory at the 2025 USATF National Outdoor Championships, where the four-time Olympic gold medalist clocked a stunning 48.90 seconds in the women’s 400m final.

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In her post-race interview, the 25-year-old track sensation revealed that the decision to pursue the flat 400m over hurdles was intentional — a commitment to personal growth and discomfort.

"I think there was always a thought throughout the season when things changed with us so drastically, just depending on where our fitness is at. I think, you know, after, I want to say going into pre, we had an idea we wanted to focus on the 4, and I think we were like, this is a challenge, it's not as comfortable for us, but I want to challenge myself. I felt like this year, I wanted to step out of the box and really push myself in a different direction. So, obviously it's uncomfortable, but I want to commit to it, and I'm committed to it, and I'm just excited to see where I can push myself into," she told reporters.

McLaughlin-Levrone is no stranger to the 400m. She first etched her name in the history books by setting the world junior record in the distance during the 2018 NCAA Division I Indoor Championships.

Her professional debut in the event came at the 2023 Diamond League meet in Paris, where she impressively finished second.

That performance laid the groundwork for her USATF Outdoor Championships victory the same year, when she ran 48.74 seconds — a time that put her within striking distance of Sanya Richards-Ross’s long-standing American record of 48.70. With that momentum, McLaughlin-Levrone has doubled down in 2025, once again storming to national victory, albeit narrowly missing the record with a 48.90s finish.

The flat 400m, however, remains unfamiliar terrain for the hurdles phenom. At the 2025 Prefontaine Classic, she ran a solid 49.43s, reinforcing her readiness for global competition in the event.

Despite being the world record holder in the 400m hurdles — having broken the mark six times and made history by resetting it four times in just over a year — McLaughlin-Levrone sees the flat 400m as a completely different beast.

One that demands a new mindset and skillset.

"This event has taught me patience. I think I've learned a lot about myself. I've learned a lot about my 400. But ultimately every day it's stepping on the track, being the best I can be, figuring out a race that is very foreign to me, and taking on new challenges and being comfortable doing it."

She had already broken the 49-second barrier for the first time in her career — a major milestone — McLaughlin-Levrone remains laser-focused on the next big target: breaking Richards-Ross’s American record.