Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone isn’t just a name—she’s a spectacle. The 25-year-old hurdler has redefined the 400m hurdles, smashing the world record six times, with her latest mark standing at a jaw-dropping 50.37 seconds. From her first record-breaking run at Tokyo 2021 to her smashing finish at Paris 2024, where she finished 1.5 seconds ahead of teammate Anna Cockrell, she’s been untouchable. But as she stepped onto the track at the Grand Slam Track League in Miami on May 4, 2025, the question on every fan’s mind wasn’t about her past—it was about her future. What will it take for Sydney to rewrite history once again?
On May 4, 2025, FloTrack posed the burning question, “What’s it going to take for her to break it again?” Her response was as honest as it was insightful. “That’s a good question,” she began, pausing to gather her thoughts. “There’s a lot that can always be changed. I just think it’s going to be continuing to improve hurdle-wise, continuing to improve stride pattern-wise, and just putting that perfect race together.”
But when a reporter followed up with, “What’s your stride pattern right now?” her reply was refreshingly blunt: “A mess. I have to go back and watch.” How does a world record holder assess a race that left her stride in disarray? Listening closely, what McLaughlin-Levrone said about herself really showed she’s an athlete who knows exactly where she stands.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has reset the world record in the 400m hurdles six times—it currently stands at 50.37.
What’s it going to take for her to break it again?#GSTMiami pic.twitter.com/W3wBbnwRlX
— FloTrack (@FloTrack) May 4, 2025
“I don’t even know what happened today,” she said with a laugh. Clearly humble about it, she explained, “We haven’t really practiced the hurdles that much, so I’m not even mad about what happened today.”
For the fans, it was a reminder that she’s human—yeah, even the greatest hurdlers have their off days. But it also showed they’re focused on what really matters down the road. It’s not about nailing perfection every race. She’s aiming for that “perfect race” she mentioned, the one where everything clicks. So, with the 2025 season underway and the World Athletics Championships in Oregon on the horizon, how does that approach play into her quest for a seventh world record?
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Clocks Year’s Fastest in 400m Hurdles
Saturday night, May 3rd, at the Grand Slam Track League in Miami, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone reminded the world she’s still the one to beat in the 400m hurdles. The two-time Olympic champion blazed to a world-leading 52.07 seconds for a commanding victory at the Ansin Sports Complex.
She got the full 12 points for her second straight Grand Slam title, and more than that, her performance set the tone for a season brimming with promise. Fresh from crushing it in Kingston (taking both 400m races), McLaughlin-Levrone’s recent win was another reminder of her unparalleled skill. That victory felt like a big statement as she prepares for the 400m flat on Sunday, May 4th, an event she last raced two years ago when she hit a personal best of 50.82.
As one of the elite “Racers” running in all four Grand Slam Track events in 2025, McLaughlin-Levrone’s next stops are scheduled for Philadelphia (May 31-June 1) and Los Angeles (June 27-29). With her sights set on refining her skills even further, her fast run in Miami has everyone in the track world wondering what’s coming next from the world record holder.
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