Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, born on August 7, 1999, is a remarkable American sprinter and hurdler who has made her mark in the world of athletics. She holds the world record for the 400 meters hurdles and the American record for the flat 400 meters, showcasing her exceptional talent and dedication to the sport.

Her illustrious career includes winning gold medals at both the 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics, as well as at the 2022 and 2025 World Athletics Championships. Notably, she set a world record time of fifty point thirty-seven seconds in the 400 m hurdles during the 2024 Summer Olympics, surpassing her previous record of fifty point sixty-five seconds. Additionally, she achieved a championship record in the flat 400 meters with a time of forty-seven point seventy-eight seconds at the 2025 World Championships, making her the second fastest woman in history over that distance.

McLaughlin-Levrone's journey began at a young age; at just fifteen, she won the 400 m hurdles at the 2015 World Youth Championships. In 2016, she became the youngest athlete since Denean Howard in 1980 to qualify for the U.S. Olympic track team, finishing third at the U.S. Olympic Trials with a world under-18 best of fifty-four point fifteen seconds. She also holds the current world U20 record of fifty-three point sixty seconds, achieved in 2018.

Throughout her career, she has consistently broken barriers, being the first woman to surpass the fifty-two second mark in June 2021 and the fifty-one second mark in July 2022 in the 400 m hurdles. McLaughlin-Levrone has claimed six of the ten fastest all-time 400 m hurdles times and was crowned the 2019 Diamond League champion. In recognition of her outstanding achievements, she was voted World Athletics Female Athlete of the Year in 2022.