Tokyo 2025: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone claims 400m world title clocking fastest time in 40 years in new championships record

In a race predestined for the history books, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone lived up to expectations by obliterating the women's 400m world Championships Record (CR) for her first world title in the event in Tokyo.

The women's 400m Hurdles world record holder, who stepped down from her trademark event to try out the 400m in Tokyo, lit up the stadium with an electrifying performance, blasting to victory in a jaw-dropping 47.78s - the second fastest time in history.

Her time shattered Jarmila Kratochvilova's CR of 47.99s set in 1983, and it is also the fastest in 40 years, just behind Marita Koch's long-standing world record of 47.60 seconds.

As expected, McLaughin-Levrone inspired a super-fast race for the ages, as defending world champion Marileidy Paulino also went below the 48-second mark, clocking a blistering personal best and continental record of 47.98s, while Salwa Eid Naser settled for the bronze medal in 48.19s.

Paulino's time rose to the third fastest in history, and alongside Naser, they join Koch as the only women in history to run under 48.2 on multiple occasions.

Natalia Bukowiecka was rewarded with a new Season's Best (SB) of 49.29s for fourth, and Great Britain's Amber Anning fifth also in a SB of 49.36s.

Four years after making history in the hurdles on the same track in Tokyo, clocking a then world record of 51.46s, McLaughline-Levrone has added her name into the record books again, proving she can succeed at whatever event she decides and she's a generational talent that can never be replaced.

The 26-year-old has now won gold in every major championship she has competed in since 2019, and indeed proven she belongs high on the list alongside Usain Bolt as one of the greatest track athletes the sport will ever produce.