Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone did not need perfection to send a message. The Olympic champion returned to Hayward Field and handled the 400 meters at the Prefontaine Classic with the kind of assurance that silences doubt and reignites debate. Her winning time of 49.43 seconds was well off the American record she once seemed poised to break, but what followed the race sparked far more interest than the clock ever could.
In a move that instantly reshaped expectations for the U.S. Championships and beyond, McLaughlin-Levrone confirmed she will not compete in the 400-meter hurdles this season. Instead, she is fully committing to the flat 400 meters by leaving behind the discipline where she already ranks among the very best. The announcement, reported by CITIUS MAG, arrives as both a strategic pivot and a subtle provocation, considering her dominance in the hurdles and the timing of an Olympic year.
The decision effectively eliminates the possibility of a head-to-head showdown with reigning world 400m hurdles champion Femke Bol, at least for now. Bol has only contested the flat 400m twice this year and has made no suggestion of adding it to her Tokyo slate. With McLaughlin-Levrone absent from the hurdles, the path clears for Bol to reclaim the global crown, while the American turns her full attention to breaking new ground in the flat event. “I think it’s on the mind always,” McLaughlin-Levrone said of Sanya Richards-Ross’s long-standing U.S. record of 48.70. “I know I’m capable of it, it’s just a matter of putting the race together.”
This is not the first time McLaughlin-Levrone has stepped away from her signature event. In 2023, she bypassed the hurdles to focus on the 400 meters at the U.S. Championships, and promptly ran a stunning 48.74 to become the second-fastest American in history. Only Richards-Ross remains ahead of her, and even that margin is now within striking range.
400m hurdles Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has officially decided to only contest the 400m at the upcoming U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships, CITIUS MAG confirmed.
She owns a season’s best of 49.43 from her victory at the Prefontaine Classic, which puts… pic.twitter.com/IylbNcXCl7
— CITIUS MAG (@CitiusMag) July 22, 2025
Her run in Eugene last weekend lacked the raw finish of her finest performances, but it was telling in other ways. Aaliyah Butler’s aggressive opening pace set the tone early, yet McLaughlin-Levrone reeled her in with ease before the home stretch. Though she admitted she “definitely” needs to study her first 200 meters, her dominance was never in question. “It wasn’t my best work,” she said, “but just happy to be here and happy to get another race under my belt.”
With a season’s best now placing her third among Americans and fifth globally, McLaughlin-Levrone’s path to Tokyo in the 400 meters appears well measured. The shift in focus has fans divided. Some lamenting the absence of a Bol-McLaughlin-Levrone rematch, others anticipating the kind of flat 400m breakthrough only she might deliver.
Fans left stunned with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s bold 400m switch
With McLaughlin-Levrone stepping away from the 400m hurdles this season, fans immediately began reshaping their predictions—“Does that mean Bol will have a chance to defend her 400h world title?” The answer is yes. Her absence clears the path for Femke Bol to dominate the event, sparking renewed anticipation for the Dutch star to reclaim global supremacy without the American hurdle queen in the mix.
Sydney’s decisive 49.43 at the Prefontaine Classic, while not her peak, sent a bold message, reading, “All in on her winning gold and running 47.” The fan’s enthusiasm mirrors McLaughlin-Levrone’s own stated ambitions. With Sanya Richards-Ross’s 48.70 now within reach, her strategic shift to the flat 400m isn’t just tactical—it’s a clear push for historic times.
Image via IMAGO
Her focus shift brought nuanced support, as one fan commented,, “Let’s go Syd. They should be able to run as they choose… she’s a determined lady so don’t doubt her.” After skipping the hurdles in 2023 and dropping a blistering 48.74, she’s proven capable of peak performances by choosing her lane. Fans recognize this is a calculated play, not a retreat, and that she’s earned the freedom to chase greatness on her own terms.
Her Eugene run wasn’t perfect, but showed flashes of dominance. One X user stated, “She’s going to get close to the WR.” Even while critiquing her first 200 meters, Sydney closed hard and outclassed a rising Aaliyah Butler with poise. Sitting fifth globally this season, her ceiling remains unmatched—making this comment less a prediction and more a warning to the record books.
Not all fans are buying into the shift—“Mark my words. She will get bronze at best if she dont find a way not to run at worlds.” This skepticism hinges on the idea that her flat 400m tactics still need sharpening. Her recent race, while victorious, lacked the decisive edge that defined her hurdle performances, raising doubts about whether she can yet outpace global specialists in the flat. Either way, the landscape of women’s sprinting has changed, and McLaughlin-Levrone is, once again, right at the center of it.
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