She’s the world champion!
Today in Tokyo at the World Athletics Championships, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone ran a 47.78 to win the women’s 400m. That’s an American record, a championship record, and the second-fastest time in history. It’s the fastest anyone has run the event in 40 years, and it happened on a wet night when most sprinters would’ve played it safe.
Two days earlier she ran a 48.29 in the semifinals, erasing Sanya Richards-Ross’s 19-year U.S. record. Then she came back and did what no American woman had ever done. She dipped under 48 seconds. She held off reigning Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino, who ran 47.98 and is now the third-fastest performance ever, with Salwa Eid Naser taking bronze in 48.19. The podium was pure Black girl magic!
From Valerie Brisco-Hooks to Allyson Felix to Sanya Richards-Ross, Black women have defined the 400 for generations. With this win, Sydney just added a new legacy defining chapter to a story that has existed for decades.
With today’s victory she just became the first person, man or woman, to win world titles in both the 400m flat and 400m hurdles.
Save this date and remember her name: Sydney. Michelle. McLaughlin. Levrone.
Cover photo: Sydney McLaughlin Becomes First American Woman to Run 400m Under 48 Seconds / Photo Credit: Aflo Co. Ltd.