Marileidy Paulino Throws Shade at Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone After 400m Defeat

The women’s 400m final at the World Athletics Championships was undoubtedly one for the books, pitting defending champion Marileidy Paulino against 400m hurdles world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.

Sydney McLauglin-Levrone won the race, clocking a championship record time of 47.78 seconds ahead of Marileidy Paulino, the Olympic 400m champion, who came in second in a national record time of 47.98 seconds.

Salwa Eid Naser, the Olympic 400m silver medallist, rounded up the podium in a season’s best time of 48.19 seconds.

PAY ATTENTION: Stay updated with the Latest Sports News in Kenya from Pulse Sports

Marileidy Paulino was out to defend her title, but Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone proved too strong for her. However, she still believes she won, noting that she has been working around the clock for the past five years.

Marileidy Paulino added that she competes in more than five races a season, unlike Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who only shows up twice or thrice. According to Marileidy Paulino, showing the number of times she does is already a win.

Paulino started her season in March, competing at the 2ª. Copa de Atletismo Titanes Mérida before heading to the Grand Slam Track leg in Kingston.

She also competed in the Grand Slam Track legs in Miami and Philadelphia, and a series of Diamond League races before finishing second in the final in Zurich.

On her part, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone competed in the three legs of the Grand Slam Track and then headed to the Prefontaine Classic before racing in the 400m flat at the US Championships.

“My mind has always been strong, regardless of who’s there. I am very proud of myself. I feel like I won because I’ve been preparing myself, running for 5 consecutive years, running 6, 7, 8 races a year, and that’s called winning. Not just showing up two or three times a year,” Marileidy Paulino said in an interview on the Inside Lane.

“The 2025 season has taught me that I should always continue fighting without caring who is in front. I will always see myself as a winner, even if I place second or third, I will always see myself as first.”

Now, Marileidy Paulino will go back to the drawing board, looking to see how she can sharpen her race pattern ahead of next season, where she will be looking to come out on top in another clash against Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.