Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone ran the fastest women’s 400 meters in 40 years, winning world championship gold in 47.78 seconds on Thursday. She completed her transition from the 400m hurdles in impressive fashion, storming through the rain in Tokyo to claim her first global gold in the flat 400m. She had previously won two Olympic and one world title in the hurdles.
Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic, the Olympic gold medalist and defending champion, finished second in 47.98 seconds, becoming the third-fastest woman in history over the distance. Bahrain’s former world champion Salwa Eid Naser took bronze in 48.19 seconds.
In the men’s 400m, Botswana’s 21-year-old Busang Collen Kebinatshipi won gold in 43.53 seconds, pulling away strongly for a dominant victory. His compatriot Bayapo Ndori took bronze, making it a memorable night for Botswana. Kebinatshipi, who had run a season-leading 43.61 seconds in the semifinals, paced his race perfectly as others started too fast, powering off the final bend to win convincingly. Jareem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago earned silver in a national record of 43.72 seconds, with Ndori finishing third in 44.20 seconds.
Sean Ingle’s full report will follow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Sydney McLaughlinLevrones historic 400m world championship win
General Beginner Questions
Q Who is Sydney McLaughlinLevrone
A She is an American track and field superstar who specializes in the 400 meters and the 400m hurdles where she is also the world record holder
Q What exactly did she accomplish
A She won the gold medal in the 400m flat at the 2023 World Championships by running the fastest time in the world in 40 years
Q What was her winning time
A She ran a time of 4876 seconds
Q Why is a 4876second time so significant
A Its the fastest time run by any woman since 1983 and places her as the 4th fastest woman in history for that event
Q Who held the previous record that she was chasing
A The World Record is held by Marita Koch of East Germany Sydneys time is the fastest since Kochs era
Q Did she break the world record
A No she did not break the 400m world record but she came remarkably close to a time that hasnt been challenged for decades
Advanced Technical Questions
Q How does her 400m flat time compare to her 400m hurdles performances
A Her 400m hurdles world record is actually slower than her flat time because clearing hurdles slows a runner down This shows her incredible pure speed
Q What does this performance suggest about her potential in the 400m
A Many experts believe that with focused training on the flat event she has a legitimate chance to challenge the longstanding world record held by Marita Koch
Q How did her race strategy differ from a hurdles race
A Without hurdles she could focus entirely on her running form pacing and maximizing her speed through the curves and straightaways without the technical aspect of clearance
Q Who are the only women who have ever run faster
A Only three women in history have run faster Marita Koch Jarmila Kratochvílová and MarieJosé Pérec 48
