Sydney eyes 400m flat, hurdles at LA 2028

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone ran the fastest women's 400m in 40 years to claim world championship gold in 47.78 seconds on Sept 18 and complete her transition from the one-lap hurdles in emphatic style.

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The American stormed through the Tokyo rain and held off Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino in a sprint to the line to add a first global gold in the flat 400m to the two Olympic and one world titles she won over the hurdles.

Only Marita Koch has run faster in the event, the East German setting the world record of 47.60sec in 1985 under the shadow of the Cold War nation’s systematic doping programme.

“It’s amazing, it’s an honour,” said McLaughlin-Levrone at the Japan National Stadium.

“I knew there were a lot of people doubting me with making the switch from 400m hurdles to the flat 400m, but ultimately... I knew I had it in me. It was just a matter of time.

“We will need to talk about the schedule for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Maybe I could do both 400m and 400m hurdles?”

McLaughlin-Levrone, who broke the world record to win Olympic gold over the hurdles in 2024, made the switch to the flat this season and went into the final as favourite after breaking the American record with a run of 48.29sec in the semifinals.

“At the end of the day, this wasn’t my title to hold on to, it was mine to gain,” she said.