McLaughlin-Levrone runs fastest women’s 400m in 40 years to claim world gold | World Athletics Championships

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone ran the fastest women’s 400 metres in 40 years to claim world championship gold in 47.78 sec on Thursday and complete her transition from the one-lap hurdles in emphatic style.

The American stormed through the Tokyo rain to add a first global gold in the flat 400m to the two Olympic and one world titles she won over the hurdles.

The Olympic gold medallist and defending champion Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic finished second in 47.98 sec and became the third-fastest woman in history over the single lap. Bronze went to Bahrain’s former world champion, Salwa Eid Naser, in 48.19 sec.

“You don’t run something like that without amazing women pushing you to it,” McLaughlin-Levrone said after the race.

When she crossed the line, McLaughlin-Levrone looked over to the clock then put her hands on her head in apparent shock. Now, many are wondering if she can break the world record of 47.60 sec, which was set by Marita Koch in 1985. A lot will depend on what America’s most accomplished one-lap sprinter decides to do over the next few years. The 26-year-old has broken the 400m hurdles world record six times, most recently at last year’s Olympics where she lowered it to 50.37 sec.

It was McLaughlin-Levrone’s 19th straight victory in a one-lap race – hurdles and flat – dating to June 2023.

“I knew it was going to be a battle down the home stretch and it was just really about focusing on my lane and kind of trying to stay as relaxed as possible,” she said.

Elsewhere on Thursday, Botswana’s 21-year-old Busang Collen Kebinatshipi won gold in the men’s 400m, roaring clear in 43.53 sec, with compatriot Bayapo Ndori taking bronze on a memorable night for the African nation.

Kebinatshipi, who scorched a season-leading 43.61 sec in the semi-finals on Tuesday, ran a brilliantly judged race as others went out hard, and came off the final bend strongly, driving through the rain for a dominant victory. Jareem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago took silver in a national record 43.72 sec, with Ndori third in 44.20 sec.

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Busang Collen Kebinatshipi (centre) won gold ahead of Jareem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago. Photograph: Kiyoshi Ota/EPA