Athletics: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Breaks 400-Meter Record at the World Championships

A 42-year meet record vanished in the night at the 2025 World Athletics Championships on Thursday, September 18 in Tokyo.

American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone smashed that mark, winning the women's 400-meter final in 47.78 seconds at National Stadium to eclipse Jarmila Kratochvilova's time by 0.21 seconds.

Czechoslovakia's former world championships record holder established the longstanding record on August 10, 1983, at the first IAAF World Championships in Athletics (former name of the global extravaganza) in Helsinki.

On a cool, rainy night in the Japanese capital, McLaughlin-Levrone, a two-time Olympic 400-meter hurdles champion and the 2022 world champion in that event, showed just how skilled she is running a "normal" 400 meters without the hurdles.

Opting to skip her signature event in Tokyo, the American embraced a new challenge by entering the flat 400 at the world championships.

From Lane 5, the 26-year-old McLaughlin-Levrone excelled from start to finish as the crowd roared with delight, witnessing a global superstar rise to the occasion.

Her sensational speed on this night produced the second-fastest women's 400 of all time, trailing only Marita Koch's 47.60 on October 6, 1985, in Canberra, Australia. For decades, Koch's career has been linked to East Germany's state-sponsored doping.

A Record-Setting Performance at the World Athletics Championships

Shortly after McLaughlin-Levrone was crowned world champion in her new individual event, she shared her thoughts on the experience.

"It's amazing, it's an honor," McLaughlin-Levrone told reporters. "I knew there were a lot of people doubting me with making the switch from 400-meter hurdles to the flat 400 meters, but ultimately, I had faith in my training."

She added, "I knew I had it in me [to run that fast]. It was just a matter of time. I knew this feeling was going to be amazing."

The gifted athlete has also won a pair of 4x400-meter relay gold medals at the past two Summer Olympics.

On Thursday, Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic ran the 400 in 47.96 seconds, a national record, and collected the silver medal. Bahrain's Salwa Eid Naser finished third (48.19).

Botswana Runners Grab Gold, Bronze in Men's 400

Moments earlier, Botswana's Busang Collen Kebinatshipi won the men's 400-meter final in 43.53 seconds, 2025's top time in the event.

Silver medalist Jereem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago set a national record (43.72), and Botswana's Bayapo Nadori was third (44.02).

"This is my first title and it feels crazy," Kebinatshipi, 21, said, describing his post-race excitement.

"After the semifinal I really started to believe in myself," he added. "To think that this is my new chapter, up until the semifinal I [had] been doubting myself. I had my struggles."

What changed?

"In the final, I had no fear," Kebinatshipi told reporters. "I wanted to go all out and see where I could go. [Although] I still have more than 10 years left in this game, I told myself to go out fast and do better than in the semi. The medal was just a bonus."

Yuki Joseph Nakajima, Japan's first finalist in the event at the world championships since Susumu Takano in 1991, placed sixth. The 23-year-old completed the race in 44.62.

A Tokyo native born to a Japanese mother and a Nigerian father, Nakajima set the national record in the 400 (44.44) in the first round of qualifying on Sunday.

Nakajima Reflects on His Performance

In a post-race interview, Nakajima didn't hide his feelings about his performance.

"My goal was to reach the final, and I was truly happy to finally run on the final stage I'd dreamed of, especially in my hometown of Tokyo," Nakajima said, according to NHK. "But I wanted a medal. That feeling of regret came after everything was over."

Although he didn't achieve his goal of earning a medal, Nakajima felt Thursday night's final was a beneficial experience.

"The 400 meters is incredibly tough," Nakaima was quoted as saying. "It was an ultimate test of mental strength — how much further you can push yourself when most athletes are already physically drained. Experiencing that was truly valuable. The road ahead is still long, and I aim to keep striving for a medal."

Walcott Captures Gold in the Men's Javelin

Thirteen years after he took home an Olympic gold from the 2012 London Games, javelin thrower Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago is the world champion.

Indeed, that long a gap between Olympic and world titles is quite unusual.

Walcott's previous best result at the world championships was a seventh-place finish in 2017, also in London.

In Thursday night's final, Walcott, 32, topped the chart with a top throw of 88.16 meters, his season-best throw.

And after a long, long wait, he was the winner of a top global competition.

"I have been waiting for this medal for 13 years," a joyful Walcott told reporters. "Olympic victory at the age of 19 was incredible. I could never beat it. But every world championship I hoped I was ready. I have been fighting for this but I was always off the podium."

He added: "I even thought that the championships are not my competition. But I never gave up. If I had given up, I would not be here."

Grenada's Anderson Peters, a two-time world champion, secured the silver (87.38). American Curtis Thompson nabbed the bronze (86.67).

Perez Hernandez Wins the Women's Triple Jump

Two-time Diamond League final winner Leyanis Perez Hernandez soared 14.94 meters to seal the victory in the women's triple jump final. The 23-year-old Cuban recorded the top mark of the year to clinch the world title, her first.

Perez Hernandez was the bronze medalist at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

By all accounts, it was a satisfactory night for Perez Hernandez on the track.

"I came to have a good series, to be consistent," the Cuban gold medalist said before adding, "I wanted to break the 15-meter barrier."

Perez Hernandez then said, "I am pleased with my jumps, but I trust myself. God had a plan for me and I finally got my world outdoor title." 

Thea Lafond, who hails from the Caribbean island nation Dominica, was the runner-up (14.89) and Venezuela's Yulimar Rojas placed third (14.76).

Day 6 at the World Athletics Championships

Also Thursday, two-time Japanese Olympian Nozomi Tanaka lost her bid to win a women's 5,000-meter qualifying heat late in the race. Tanaka placed fifth in 14 minutes, 47.14 seconds.

Kenya's Beatrice Chebet took the lead on the final lap and finished in 14:45.59.

Yuma Yamamoto and compatriot Tanaka were early pacesetters. Yamamoto lost the lead around the 2,500-meter mark and faded from contention. She ended up as the 18th-place finisher (15:36.29).

After the race, Tanaka thanked Yamamoto and others for helping her to prepare for and compete at the worlds.

"I appreciate all the support I have been given by my family, my dad who is my coach and all the fans at the stadium tonight," said Tanaka, a five-time national champion in the 5,000. "But also, I am grateful to Yuma, who helped me during the race, she was a real teammate.

"Even if the results were not the best ones for both of us, we gave 100%."

For Tanaka, a Medal is the Target

Tanaka now shifts her focus to the 5,000 final on Saturday night.

"I got a lot of energy tonight and I wanted to give it back by securing a place in the final," she commented. [And] I want to take all my energy into winning a medal. I don't know if it's going to happen, but I will try."

In the second heat, Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay was the winner in 14:56.46. 

Japan's Ririka Hironaka was 13th in 15:10.68. Unable to maintain her fast pace, she slipped from first to 10th between the 4,300 and 4,500 meters.

The top eight finishers in both qualifying heats advanced to the final. 

Lyles Shines in Men's 200 Semifinals

Miyagi Prefecture native Towa Uzawa clocked 20.23 in a men's 200-meter semifinal heat (the first of three), placing sixth and failing to advance to Friday's final. American Kenneth Bednarek finished first in 19.88.

Jamaica's Bryan Levell was the winner of the second heat (19.88).

Also in the 200 semifinals, US sprinter Noah Lyles, a three-time world champ in the event (2019, 2022, '23), triumphed in the third heat in a blistering 19.51 seconds. It was the world-leading time for 2025 in the race.

Lyles said his victory made a statement.

"I surprised myself, I kind of backed up a little bit as we got to the last 20 meters," the reigning Olympic champion told reporters.

He then said, "I am going to put on a whole race in the final. The goal today was to do the bend well and finish first."

Lyles described his unwavering confidence in his running ability after the semifinal heat.

"When I got up after the first 50 meters, I thought I heard [Great Britain's Zharnel [Hughes] running along and I said to myself, 'You ain't catching me.' The message today was that they can't beat me," Lyles commented. "I knew I was running fast when I exited the curve. But I didn't expect 19.51. I was expecting 19.60 or 19.70."

A natural showman, Lyles added this post-race promotional message to the media: "Don't miss the final, it's going to be magical."

Jamaica's Jackson Stays in Hunt for Another World Title

Japan's Abigeirufuka Ido, ranked 106th in the world, finished in last place in a 200-meter semifinal heat in 23.15 seconds. Jamaica's Shericka Jackson, who won the gold at the world championships in 2022, was victorious (21.99), securing a coveted spot in Friday's final.

Team USA's Melissa Jefferson-Wooden placed first (22.00) in the second semifinal heat, while American Anavia Battle was the victor in the third heat (22.09).

Kubo, Takahashi Fall Short of Qualifying Targets

In the third of seven qualifying heats for the women's 800, Japan's Rin Kubo placed seventh out of the race's eight entrants, clocking 2:02.84 and the two-time national champion didn't advance to the semifinals. Ethiopia's Tsige Duguma won the heat (2:01.53).

Nagisa Takahashi, Japan's lone entrant in the women's high jump competition, tied for last (1.88 meters) in qualifying. Thus, she didn't book a spot in the 16-athlete final.

Medal Table Update

With three days remaining in the World Athletics Championships, Japan has only one medal ― Hayato Katsuki's bronze from the men's 35-km event on Day 1 (September 13).

The US leads all nations with 12 total medals, including eight gold. Kenya is second with seven medals (four gold).

See the full medal table on the World Athletics website.

RELATED:

• World Athletics Championships: Faith Cherotich Sets Meet Record in the 3,000 Steeplechase
• ODDS and EVENS | An Unforgettable Men's Marathon at the World Championships
• Rachid Muratake Places 5th in 110-Meter Hurdles at the World Championships
• Mondo Duplantis Sets 14th World Record to Win the Gold in Tokyo

Author: Ed Odeven

Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.