Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone nearly broke the longest-standing world record in the flat 400-meter race to win her first title at the world championships on Thursday, after dominating the hurdles for the past four years. McLaughlin-Levrone said at the World Athletics Championships at Japan National Stadium in Tokyo: “I knew it was going to be a fast race, great competition. To see it come to fruition, it’s always a bit of disbelief.” When asked if the world record is a goal, McLaughlin-Levrone replied: “I think barriers are broken when the time is right. It’s really just about executing and trusting the process.”McLaughlin-Levrone, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and six-time world record breaker in the 400m hurdles, is now the first person to win world titles in both one-lap events. She also planned to race the flat 400m instead of the 400m hurdles at the 2023 Worlds, but withdrew before the meet due to injury.