Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone delivered a masterclass in the rain-soaked National Stadium on September 18, 2025, clocking a blistering 47.78 seconds to win the women's 400m gold at the World Athletics Championships—the fastest time in 40 years and second-quickest ever—cementing her shift from hurdles dominance to flat-track phenom.

The 26-year-old American, already a two-time Olympic and world hurdles champion with six world records in that event, surged from lane five under erratic winds and puddles, holding off Dominican Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino (47.98, a national record and third-fastest all-time) and Bahrain's Salwa Eid Naser (48.19, ninth-fastest ever).

Britain's Amber Anning claimed fifth in a season's best of 49.36. McLaughlin-Levrone's mark smashed the 42-year-old championship record of 47.99 set by Czechoslovakia's Jarmila Kratochvílová in 1983 and vaulted her past Kratochvílová to No. 2 on the all-time list, behind only East Germany's Marita Koch's controversial 47.60 from 1985.

Doubters who questioned her late decision to skip hurdles for the flat—where she entered seeded third—fell silent as she floated through the downpour, crediting coach Bobby Kersee's "take the belt" mantra, rigorous training, and faith. "I had it in me to run that fast. It was just a matter of time," she said post-race, hinting at a world-record assault and potential double at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.