Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone hasn’t made a final decision yet, but the reigning 400m hurdles world record holder is seriously weighing the possibility of attempting the 400m/400m hurdles double at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. The American star, who owns a 400m personal best of 48.74, walked away from the opening Grand Slam Track meet in Kingston with two wins, a US$100,000 prize — and plenty of motivation.
“I think we’re going to keep training for either the 400 or the 400 hurdles and make a decision as we get closer,” she said following her wins in Jamaica. “For now, I’m just enjoying the Slams and trying to be the best overall athlete I can be.”
McLaughlin-Levrone clocked 50.32 in the 400m on Sunday, battling a stiff -5 m/s headwind, following a 52.76 win in the 400m hurdles on Saturday. But while she looked smooth and composed, the level of competition she witnessed from the sidelines reminded her that the flat 400m is a different beast altogether in 2025.
On Saturday night, Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser stormed to a world-leading 48.67 to win the Grand Slam Track 400m in Kingston — an eye-catching time for early April, but still behind the marks laid down at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Dominican Republic’s Marileidy Paulino won gold in a stunning 48.17 to become the fourth-fastest woman in history. Naser took silver in 48.53, also among the fastest times ever recorded.
“That was a fast race! Really fun to watch,” McLaughlin-Levrone said of the race in which Gabby Thomas ran a lifetime best of 49.14 for second place and Paulino, 49.35 for third. “It got me excited for where track and field is heading. It was very fast, very early — so I’ve definitely got some work to do if I want a fair shot in that company.”
McLaughlin-Levrone is one of a few women in history to have run under 49 seconds in the 400m, a feat she accomplished in 2023 with her 48.74 PB. Known for her historic exploits over the hurdles, where she has rewritten the world record multiple times, the idea of a 400m/400m hurdles double is gaining traction — even if it remains a daunting prospect.
“I think anything’s possible,” she said. “I like to take it one step at a time, but everything’s on the table. We’ll just have to see where we fare up and continue to progress through the season.”
No woman has ever won both the 400m and 400m hurdles at the same World Championships or Olympic Games. If McLaughlin-Levrone decides to take on the double in Tokyo, she could make history once again.
For now, her focus is on versatility. With the Grand Slam Track series providing a flexible and competitive platform, she’s hinted at exploring other events, including the 100m, 100m hurdles, and the 200m in upcoming stops like Philadelphia and Los Angeles.
“This format, the competition — it’s just fun to be a part of,” she said. “And it’s pushing all of us to be better.”
Photos: Grand Slam Track