Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone needed just one season in the 400m flat to turn an established order on its head. And she did it with ease. The American stepped away from her signature hurdles this season. And in just a matter of a few months, she managed to pull off a 47.78 seconds, leaving Marileidy Paulino and Salwa Eid Naser scrambling in her wake. Paulino dipped under 48 seconds herself, the first time two women had ever done so in the same race, yet the Olympic champion still could not close the gap. A clear statement that Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone knows her caliber and can unsettle even the event’s strongest incumbents.

After the race, however, the rivalry shifted from the stopwatch to words. Paulino remarked, “I’m 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.” The comment struck many as a thinly veiled dig at McLaughlin-Levrone, who has just transitioned to the 400m flat. And running a selective schedule has been a frequent talking point. Moreover, Marileidy Paulino also finished sub-48. But Sydney’s massive win left her on the back foot. Sydney now is trailing just 0.18 seconds behind Marita Koch’s world record of 47.60 from 1985.

Fans quickly responded across platforms, interpreting Paulino’s statement as a dismissal of her rival’s achievement despite the Dominican running the third-fastest time in history. The pushback was immediate. And amid this, US track legend Justin Gatlin offered a contrasting perspective. Reflecting on the night, he said on the Tidal League podcast, “As soon as I saw that rain, I thought about that movie 300 when ready. And then it had me thinking before the race started, I was like, man, she went 48.90 at nationals. I was like, oh, they’ve been tricking us this whole time. She just was loaded at nationals. She wasn’t even race ready at nationals to still drop 48.90. This is her being ready right now.” He added that what stood out most was McLaughlin-Levrone’s visible surprise, adding, “This the first time that we’ve seen her be in awe of her own greatness.”

Gatlin also praised the collective standard of the field, pointing out that Paulino and Naser were not overawed. “Paulino didn’t give up, didn’t let up, and she went 47. And Naser went out there, ran her race, did a great job,” he said, noting that their presence will keep the event competitive. “Now you think they’re gonna back down because Sydney jumping into the boat, they like, ‘No, bring it on. We’re gonna make it epic.’”

Gatlin shared his take on the historic race, rightly framing the rivalry as the start of a new era for the 400m. In just less than a minute on September 18, McLaughlin-Levrone confirmed she could command the flat as she once did the hurdles. And right after she clinched a victory that stunned the world she just shared her plan for the Los Angeles Olympics. 

Can McLaughlin-Levrone master both the 400m flat and hurdles on Olympic soil?

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone left Tokyo with more than a medal. Leaving all skepticism behind, she left with a decision about her Olympic future. When she was asked about her plan for LA2028, Sydney said, “We will need to talk about the schedule for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Maybe I could do both 400m and 400m hurdles. I would need some days off between those events and there is a tough field in both events”. 

Now, having crossed into new territory with a 400m world title, she confronted questions of what comes next. “It’s amazing, it’s an honor,” she said. While many doubted her switch from hurdles to the flat distance, she proved her worth. Yet her performance not only silenced uncertainty but also raised the possibility of extending her ambitions further.

Still, almost 3 years are left for LA to unveil. And her plan indeed already shows her willingness to explore a dual program in Los Angeles, aiming for a three-peat win (400m flat, 400m hurdles, and relay). Already the first athlete to win world titles in both disciplines, and now the track world would just wait to witness more. By setting out this vision immediately after securing her 400m crown, McLaughlin-Levrone has just raised the stakes even higher.