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McLaughlin-Levrone has no rivals in the 400m. |
At the 2025 Tokyo World Athletics Championships, the American athlete continued to assert her position as the speed queen with a performance that stunned the global athletics world.
Capture the crown with or without fences
In a thrilling contest with Marileidy Paulino in the 400m final, McLaughlin-Levrone proved his steadfastness. Two years ago, it was Paulino who defeated McLaughlin-Levrone in the Diamond League (Paris). The reason was that McLaughlin-Levrone was subjective when accelerating too recklessly and lost in the final leg.
But this time, McLaughlin-Levrone held his own in the final 100 meters, not giving his rival a chance to overtake him. Paulino finished in a brilliant 47.98 seconds – the third fastest time in history. But all eyes were on McLaughlin-Levrone, who clocked 47.78 seconds, the fastest time in 40 years, only beaten by Marita Koch’s controversial doping record.
It’s worth noting that the 400m straight run is not the New Jersey native’s forte. McLaughlin-Levrone’s main stage remains the 400m hurdles, where she dominates. This is like a marathon runner winning a gold medal in race walking. While the two events are similar, they require different techniques, leading to different peak performance.
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McLaughlin-Levrone is a legend on the hurdles. |
McLaughlin-Levrone holds six of the 10 fastest times in the 400m hurdles history, including the top three. Since her first world record of 51.90 seconds in 2021, she has steadily lowered her record, with coach Bobby Kersee publicly stating her ambition to break the 50-second mark. If that happens, it will be a turning point for world athletics forever.
The 400m run doesn’t stop there, but it opens up another possibility: a double gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, if the schedule is adjusted to avoid overlapping distances. McLaughlin-Levrone herself hasn’t denied this ambition, though she has joked that she’s open to the possibility of trying the 800m, a suggestion that International Athletics Federation President Sebastian Coe made after witnessing her superb performance.
Incredible Heritage
At just 26, McLaughlin-Levrone has built an incredible legacy. If it weren’t for Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Femke Bol would have been the undisputed king, holding all three of the greatest records in 400m hurdles history. But the American’s exceptional talent has left Bol with little choice but to accept the role of “overshadowed by a generation of exceptional athletes.” And now, McLaughlin-Levrone has proven she can also compete in the 400m straight – a field that used to be the domain of athletics icons.
Her stature has even drawn comparisons to Usain Bolt, who dominated both the 100m and 200m. McLaughlin-Levrone’s innovative approach to the track also shows her unique personality. Instead of the traditional 15 steps between hurdles, she only needs 14, creating a huge advantage in tempo and speed.
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McLaughlin-Levrone always leaves his opponents in the dust. |
Comparing McLaughlin-Levrone with great athletes like Jackie Joyner-Kersee in the heptathlon, Allyson Felix in the short track, or Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in the 100m... may be lame because each person has their own era, their own mark. But no one denies that McLaughlin-Levrone has entered the ranks of immortal faces in athletics. Salwa Eid Naser - the rare person who has ever beaten her - had to admit: "I think the women's 400m straight world record is about to be broken. After today, I believe it is completely possible."
That is the power of McLaughlin-Levrone. She not only conquered history, but also made her opponents reconsider their limits. McLaughlin-Levrone's victory was not enough, it also opened up a new belief in the possibility of a breakthrough.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s future, with her athleticism, technical ability and sheer will, seems limitless. If she can achieve the double gold at Los Angeles 2028, it will not only be a personal milestone, but a moment that will redefine the limits of human athletics. And even if that day is yet to come, McLaughlin-Levrone will be remembered as one of the greatest athletes of all time.
Source: https://znews.vn/mclaughlin-levrone-cham-tam-usain-bolt-o-cu-ly-400-met-post1589905.html
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