Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone celebrates after winning the women's 400m final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships. Vegard Gr√òtt/Bildbyran/Sipa USA

American track star Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone won gold in the women’s 400m at the World Athletics Championships on Thursday, running the second-fastest time ever.

McLaughlin-Levrone – who typically runs hurdles – completed the race in a world championship record 47.78 seconds in rainy conditions in Tokyo, surpassing the previous mark of 47.99 seconds set by Jarmila Kratochvílová in 1983.

The 26-year-old’s time was just 0.18 seconds shy of the world record in the event, set by Marita Koch. The German set the mark of 47.60 seconds in 1985 in Canberra, Australia. McLaughlin-Levrone has already set numerous world records in the women

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