McLaughlin-Levrone came close to Usain Bolt's level in the 400-meter race.

At age 26, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has rewritten almost the entire history of the 400m hurdles and is now making an incredible mark in the 400m straight, a distance that is not her specialty.

McLaughlin-Levrone is unrivaled in the 400m race.

At the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships, the American athlete continued to assert her status as the queen of speed with a performance that stunned the global athletics world.

Seize the crown whether the race has hurdles or not.

In a nail-biting showdown with Marileidy Paulino in the 400m final, McLaughlin-Levrone demonstrated unwavering composure. Two years prior, Paulino had defeated McLaughlin-Levrone at the Diamond League (Paris). The reason was that McLaughlin-Levrone was overconfident, taking a risky sprint and running out of steam in the final stretch.

But this time, McLaughlin-Levrone maintained his pace in the final 100 meters, giving his opponent no chance to overtake him. Paulino brilliantly finished with 47.98 seconds – the third fastest time in history. However, all eyes were on McLaughlin-Levrone with 47.78 seconds, the fastest record in the last 40 years, surpassed only by the controversial doping record of Marita Koch.

Notably, the 400m straight is not the specialty event of the girl from New Jersey. McLaughlin-Levrone's main stage remains the 400m hurdles, where she absolutely dominates. This is not unlike a marathon runner winning the gold medal in race walking. Although both events have similarities, they require different techniques, leading to different peak performances.

McLaughlin-Levrone is a legend on the hurdles track.

McLaughlin-Levrone holds six of the ten fastest times in the history of the 400m hurdles, including the top three. Since first breaking the world record with 51.90 seconds in 2021, she has consistently improved her performance, with her coach Bobby Kersee openly stating her ambition to break the 50-second mark. If that happens, it would be a permanent turning point in world athletics.

But that's not all; her recent 400m performance opens up another prospect: a double gold medal win at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, if the schedule is adjusted to avoid overlapping events. McLaughlin-Levrone herself doesn't deny this ambition, although she even joked that she would leave open the possibility of trying the 800m. This was a suggestion made by World Athletics President Sebastian Coe after witnessing her outstanding performance.

An incredible legacy

Despite being only 26 years old, McLaughlin-Levrone has built an incredible legacy. Without Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Femke Bol would have been the absolute dominant figure, holding all three of the greatest records in the history of the 400m hurdles. However, the exceptional talent of the American athlete meant Bol had to accept being "overshadowed by an extraordinary generation." And now, McLaughlin-Levrone has proven that she can also compete in the 400m sprint – a field once dominated by track and field legends.

Her stature has even been compared to Usain Bolt, who once dominated both the 100m and 200m races. Her innovative approach to the track also showcases McLaughlin-Levrone's distinctive personality. Instead of the traditional 15 steps between hurdles, she only needs 14, giving her a significant advantage in pace and speed.

McLaughlin-Levrone always leaves his opponents in the dust.

Comparing McLaughlin-Levrone to track and field legends like Jackie Joyner-Kersee in the heptathlon, Allyson Felix in short-distance running, or Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in the 100m… might be unfair, as each has their own era and legacy. However, no one can deny that McLaughlin-Levrone has entered the ranks of the immortal faces of track and field. Even Salwa Eid Naser – one of the few who has ever beaten her – admitted: "I think the women's 400m straight world record is about to be broken. After today, I believe it's entirely possible."

That is the power of McLaughlin-Levrone. She not only conquered history, but also forced her rivals to reconsider their own limits. McLaughlin-Levrone's victory wasn't enough; she also opened up new hope for breakthroughs.

McLaughlin-Levrone's future, with her physical prowess, technique, and intense ambition, seems limitless. If she achieves a double gold medal win in Los Angeles in 2028, it will not only be a personal milestone but also a moment that redefines human limits in track and field. And even though that day may not come, McLaughlin-Levrone is already worthy of being 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