Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Shines with Historic 400m Win

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone captured gold in the women's 400m at the World Championship with a time of 47.78 seconds. She transitioned from hurdles to flat racing in remarkable fashion, while Marileidy Paulino and Salwa Eid Naser completed the podium amidst a challenging rainy Tokyo setting.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone made history by running the fastest women's 400 meters in four decades, winning world championship gold in 47.78 seconds on Thursday. Her victory marks a successful shift from hurdles to the flat race, defeating Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino in a dramatic sprint finish.

Marita Koch remains the only woman to have run faster, setting her record in 1985. In a competitive field, Paulino secured silver with a time of 47.98 seconds, becoming the third fastest woman ever, while Salwa Eid Naser returned from a ban to take bronze with a time of 48.19 seconds.

Despite challenging weather conditions, including rain, McLaughlin-Levrone remained the favorite, further showcasing her prowess by breaking the American record in the semi-finals. The race saw athletes from around the globe compete fiercely, with Poland's Natalia Bukowiecka and Britain's Amber Anning finishing in top positions.

(With inputs from agencies.)