“We’ll focus just on the 400″ in Tokyo, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone revealed in an interview after winning the National title. “It’s a very daunting task in and of itself. It’s a very competitive field. I respect those competitors for sure, and I want to make sure I can give my all to those races.” To sum it up, the 400m US Champion had given up her domination in the 400mH for now, to bring herself some competition by racing in the 400m. So, can she win the gold in Tokyo? Listen to what Justin Gatlin had to say.
“She run like the old school women back in the day, like the Tigerbelles and Wilma Rudolph and them, like she running literally running for her life. You know what I mean?” exclaimed Justin Gatlin regarding Marileidy Paulino’s performance in the Silesia Diamond League in one of the episodes of Ready Set Go. The Tigerbelles were the women’s track team from Tennessee State University, producing legendary sprinters. Their most famous star was Wilma Rudolph, who overcame polio and won 3 Olympic golds in 1960, becoming the fastest woman alive.
He remarked on how Paulino seemed to almost glide when she pushed off the ground. The track and field legend pointed out that beyond her movement, it was her confidence that made her run so strikingly. Talking of the same race, Gatlin remarked, “Man, if you watch that race, Naser was like clearly out in the head and her to have enough energy to be able to run her down the last 50 meters and pass her, that tells you that she still has enough left in the tank.”
ATHLETISME : Meeting Herculis – Diamond League – 11/07/2025 – Monaco Marileidy Paulino MonacoMonaco PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRAxBEL Copyright: xWilliamxCannarellax
Marileidy Paulino staged a stunning comeback in the final stretch to overtake Salwa Eid Naser, winning the 400m in 49.18 seconds. Naser finished very closely behind at 49.27.
Justin Gatlin made it clear, “Definitely moving forward, it’s going to be very, very hard for anybody at this point in time to beat Paulino at the World Championships.” A warning sent to all, and especially to Sydney McLuaghlin-Levrone, who is looking for her first 400m world title.
The challenge ahead of Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone to win the 400m crown
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is stepping into the flat 400m with an already legendary resume. At the U.S. Championships, she dominated the field with a season-best 48.90 seconds, earning her spot on Team USA for Worlds, just 0.20 shy of the American record. Her personal best of 48.74, set in 2023, confirms she belongs among the event’s elite. Transitioning from the 400m hurdles, where she is both Olympic champion and world-record holder, McLaughlin-Levrone has the mantle, but her competition is tough.
Fans do not think she can win. They are betting on Paulino, who has defeated Levrone before.
It was her debut in the 400m when Paulino and she first raced in the 400m flat. The stage was the Diamond League meeting in Paris, where the 400m world champion edged McLaughlin‑Levrone with a time of 49.71s, earning victory.
At Budapest 2023, Paulino won the women’s 400m in 48.76 seconds, setting a national record and becoming the first Dominican woman to claim World Championship gold. Then, Marileidy Paulino stormed to Olympic gold in the women’s 400m at Paris 2024, recording a time of 48.17 seconds to break a 28-year-old Olympic record. She became the first woman from the Dominican Republic to win an Olympic gold medal in athletics. This was also her personal best.
With such an elite record on Paulino’s resume, it might get tricky for Sydney to surpass her. But despite it all, the experience will be something to cherish for long…
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