Sydney McLaughlin‑Levrone has spent the spring cruising through 52‑second 400‑metre‑hurdle runs, faster than anyone has ever managed before June, and assuring fans the knee that bothered her last year is finally settled. Yet, while the Olympic legend’s spotlight glows bright, another athlete who won a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics has been plotting her comeback in the shadows. She broke her silence on X just before the Paris Diamond League. And the contender?
Marileidy Paulino has kept a relatively low profile this season, no early Diamond Leagues, no hype-heavy promos. Instead, she was grinding in smaller meets, sharpening her form. In May, she blasted a 49.12 in Philadelphia, the second-fastest time in the world this year and faster than Sydney’s lifetime best of 49.69. That’s no small statement. And now, she’s stepping onto the big stage this Friday at the Paris Diamond League, the same city and the same country where she made history last year by winning Olympic gold and becoming the Dominican Republic’s first-ever individual athletics champion. What makes this even scarier for her competitors?
“My focus is on the World Championships”@MarileidyP has her sights set on another major global title in 2025.#ParisDL#DiamondLeague pic.twitter.com/TeOsPgANmu
— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) June 19, 2025
Just before the meet, Paulino took to X and posted, “So we are already… it’s been a back season, and we are obviously preparing for the World Championships in September. That is our focus, and every single competition, every single event I am taking part in, is obviously with the World Championships in mind.” Translation? She’s been quiet for a reason. Paulino hasn’t lost a race at the Stade Charléty. She’s also a three-time world champion. And now, she’s stepping into a 400m field that includes names like Lieke Klaver and Amber Anning. Paris will be her first Diamond League race this year. Every race from here on out is a dress rehearsal for September. But how is she a threat to Sydney McLaughlin‑Levrone, who is the hurdler?
Is the double on? Sydney McLaughlin‑Levrone’s 2025 season teases Paulino clash
There was serious buzz early in the 2025 season that Sydney McLaughlin‑Levrone might attempt the rare and brutal 400m + 400m hurdles double at this year’s World Championships, and that speculation wasn’t just fan fiction. Sydney herself stirred the pot with her race choices: in April (Kingston), she won the flat 400m in 50.32, her first since 2022; then in May at the Miami Grand Slam Track meet, she dropped a blazing 49.69, one of the top five times in the world this season. Just a day before that, she ran a 52.07 in the 400m hurdles—the fastest ever recorded before June. Sydney even tested herself in the 100m in Philadelphia, hinting at a broader speed base. While there’s been no official word yet, if she does go for the double, it sets the stage for a blockbuster showdown with Paulino in the flat 400m.
Sydney McLaughlin‑Levrone and Marileidy Paulino—two of the biggest forces in women’s long sprinting—have danced around each other without truly clashing. McLaughlin-Levrone, queen of the 400m hurdles, has occasionally dipped into the flat 400m, while Paulino, dominant in the open quarter, has flirted with the 200m. Scheduling conflicts at major championships have kept their lanes separate, turning fan discussions into endless “what ifs.” That changed briefly in 2023 at the Paris Diamond League, when Paulino stormed to a 49.12 win, while McLaughlin-Levrone ran a personal best of 49.71 in her first elite flat 400m in nearly two years. It was the only time they’ve met, and Paulino walked away with a 0.59-second victory.
Sydney McLaughlin‑Levrone has made history in the hurdles—world record holder (50.68), Olympic and World Champion, and the owner of some jaw-dropping relay splits (47.9 and 47.7). But while Sydney has rewritten the hurdles rulebook, Paulino has been quietly building her empire in the 400m flat. With a blistering 48.17 personal best—making her the fourth-fastest woman of all time—plus Olympic gold, a world title, and three Diamond League trophies, Paulino has made the event her home. And let’s not forget, she’s already beaten Sydney head-to-head.
If both lined up today at their absolute best? Paulino, on paper, still holds the advantage. She’s already proven she can win big races and execute perfectly under pressure, often shutting things down with 10-15 meters to go and still running under 49. Meanwhile, Sydney is the wild card. Her ceiling is terrifyingly high if she ever commits fully to the flat 400m. Could she eventually dip under Paulino’s 48.17? Maybe. But until that rematch happens, Paulino leads 1-0, and the entire track world is holding its breath for round two.
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