Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone continues to push the boundaries of track and field after clinching the 400m world title in Tokyo with a truly unforgettable performance. On September 18, the American star ran an impressive 47.78 seconds, making it the second-fastest time ever and breaking a championship record that had stood for 42 years. This monumental achievement put the 26-year-old in the spotlight. It automatically sparked discussions about the sport’s top performers, and comparisons to the iconic Usain Bolt were unsurprising.

As highlighted by track and field analyst Kemal Forde on X, the statistical case for her greatness is compelling: “Usain Bolt and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone have the most Championship Records/ World Records in World Athletics Championship History. Usain Bolt~ 100m~ 9.58 WR. Usain Bolt~ 200m~ 19.19 WR. Mens’ 4*100m~ 37.04 CR. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone~ 400m~ 47.78 CR. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone~ 400mH~ 50.68 WR. Womens’ 4*400m~ 3:16.61 CR.”

Forde’s analysis highlights McLaughlin-Levrone’s world championships competition record in the 400m hurdles with a time of 50.68, and also the 400m at 47.78. Notably, she has two better times than this in the 400-meter hurdles, as she set the world record time of 50.37 during the 2024 Paris Olympics. This impressive feat puts her in an elite category, right up there with Bolt, who, as everyone knows, is a living legend. The strong performance in various one-lap events highlights uncommon versatility in the sport. It’s not just about the numbers; her presence gives off that same vibe Bolt showered.

It’s pretty impressive that McLaughlin-Levrone has snagged her first global title in the flat 400m. Especially since she just switched to this event this season, looking for a new challenge after owning the 400m hurdles. Looking back on her big win, McLaughlin-Levrone shared, “I knew there were a lot of people doubting me with making the switch from 400m hurdles to the flat 400m, but ultimately, I had faith in my training. I knew I had it in me. It definitely helped having Mariledy Paulino in the outer lane where I could see her. But I still had to get the work done. My coach told me to get out of the blocks as fast as possible, not to stay in it for long.”

Arguably, the greatest women’s hurdler in the event’s history puts her side by side with Bolt. Although the Jamaican sprinter struggles with his health, he remains the benchmark for most athletes to conquer. He dominated the 100 and 200-meter events for almost a decade, with nobody coming close to his world record. Scientifically, 9.58 is as fast as a human can go, and Bolt’s record could stay for eternity. Similarly, Levrone became the first woman to set a time under 51 in the 400-meter hurdles.

Last year, retired sprinter Justin Gatlin pointed out this similarity, saying that, just like Bolt, “You gonna get bored of that Sydney winning everything. Sydney win every race. You gonna get bored of it to the point where her time is not even gonna affect you anymore.” So, the big question now is, what barrier will Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone go after next? Well, the track athlete has shared her future goals.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone opens up about her future in track and field

In Tokyo, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone won a gold medal and became the second-fastest woman ever in the event, right after Marita Koch’s world record of 47.60 seconds in 1985. She felt really “honored” to achieve this, and she mentioned, “Definitely wasn’t expecting that time, but it just shows the fitness is there. Excited for the finals and grateful to have taken down a record by an amazing woman.” With these big achievements under her belt, it’s only natural to think about what’s next for the 26-year-old superstar.

During an interview with People magazine, McLaughlin-Levrone expressed her feelings, saying, “At the moment, I think just kind of enjoying this one. I think there’s always something you could improve upon, whether that’s going back to the 400 hurdles to try to break 50 or trying again for this world record, or whatever it is, there’s always something we could focus on.”

Indeed, she has a couple of exciting options ahead of her. She could return to her signature event, the 400m hurdles, where she already holds the world record at 50.37 seconds. Breaking the excellent 50-second barrier could elevate her to an even legendary status. Alternatively, she could continue her quest to tackle the tough flat 400m world record. As we get closer to LA 2028, Team USA is looking really strong in both the women’s 400m and 400m hurdles, with McLaughlin-Levrone in the mix. Sydney means business!