What comes to your mind when you hear of Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone? One of the best to have ever stepped into the 400-meter hurdles, right? The Olympian has broken the 400m hurdles world record six times since 2021, starting with a 51.90s run at the U.S. Trials. She went on to lower it at the Tokyo Olympics, the 2022 World Championships, and again in 2024 and 2025, culminating in a stunning 50.37s at the Paris Olympics. But there’s a twist in the 2025 season.
Levrone has taken command of the 400m this year, smoothly shifting from hurdles to flat sprints with ease. In Kingston (April), she opened the Grand Slam circuit with a 52.76s hurdles win. Then she powered through the flat 400 m on May 4 (Miami) with a stunning 49.69 s—nearly two seconds clear—to sweep both events and claim the top prize. Most recently, at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, she effortlessly cruised to victory in 49.43 s. And now her eyes are set on another target. What’s that?
NBC Sports Director of Social Media, Travis Miller, took to his official X handle to make an important announcement related to the 2024 Olympic gold medalist. He tweeted, “Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will another 400m this weekend at the upcoming Ed Murphey Classic!” The 2025 Ed Murphey Classic is set to light up Memphis as part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver-tier on July 11th & 12th, 2025.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will another 400m this weekend at the upcoming Ed Murphey Classic! pic.twitter.com/gQZcKKJg3r
— Travis Miller (@travismillerx13) July 6, 2025
But what is the buzz around her and the 400m this year? Track and field commentator Anderson Emerole puts it perfectly. He wrote on X, “400H: Easier path to gold Can target first ever sub-50 sec 400H mark. 400m: Tough, but more interesting, path to gold vs Paulino, Naser, etc. Unfinished business after injury before 2023 Worlds. Can target American Record & (maybe) sub-48.” She can look to break the world record for the 7th time with a sub-50 in 400mH. However, there’s more thrill and redemption to the 400m.
Sydney McLaughlin‑Levrone’s near-miss in 2023 left her with clear unfinished business. A minor knee injury that forced her withdrawal from the World Championships in Budapest sidelined her. The next World Athletics Championships will take place in Tokyo, Japan, from September 13 to 21, 2025. And there, she can target the world record once again. And fans are all in for it.
Fans debate over Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s next career decision
A fan who asked, “Is she doubling for worlds sums the very basis of this debate up in this one question? That’d be exciting. She can leave 400mH for all I care and move down to 400 & 200. Let Femke obsess about how many steps her right foot left foot bu herself.” There’s a strong buzz that Sydney is considering doubling in both the 400 m hurdles and the flat 400 m at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. She said the Prefontaine Classic would be a factor to consider; she won there.
Also, there is a little rivalry between Femke Bol and Sydney. Bol has recently changed her technique. Now, she is switching the lead leg sooner to maintain speed and improve my rhythm. Now, a lot of fans are rooting for her to hit the world record. One fan said, “Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is unstoppable! Can’t wait to see her dominate the 400m again. @Joshuastock32 might say she’s rewriting the record books—and he’s not wrong.”
Another commented, “Clearly she is very confident in her flat 400m training to date & wants another go at the American Record. I think she gets it this time.” The women’s 400 m world record has stood since October 6, 1985, when East Germany’s Marita Koch electrified the track in Canberra with a breathtaking 47.60 seconds. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s best is 48.74s, achieved on July 8, 2023, at the U.S. Championships in Eugene.
“She ain’t breaking the NR. Might as well compete at Trials. We need competition for the 400m at Worlds,” wrote a fan. Another who said, “Clearly she is very confident in her flat 400m training to date & wants another go at the American Record noted the same. I think she gets it this time.” Sydney’s best in 400m is the second-fastest time ever by an American woman, just 0.04s shy of Sanya Richards‑Ross’ national record. What do you think?
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