Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone made a triumphant return to the 400m hurdles, winning in a world-leading time of 52.7 seconds at the Edwin Moses Classic in Atlanta on Friday. This was her first race in the event since August 2022. McLaughlin-Levrone, who won gold at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and holds the world record in the 400m hurdles, showcased her dominance despite her long absence from the event.

The 24-year-old American athlete chose to limit her competition to the United States this season to ensure her readiness for the US Olympic trials and her title defense at the Paris Olympics. She explained her decision, saying, "I love racing and I love Europe, but I think in a year like this and coming back from injury last year I just wanted to be safe. Travel can take a lot out of the body, and hopefully, I can get some more races, but I'm just playing it safe until I get to trials."

McLaughlin-Levrone's winning time, though short of her world record of 50.68 seconds set at the 2022 World Championships, was significantly faster than the next best time of 53.72 seconds set by Jamaica's Rushell Clayton earlier this year. Reflecting on her performance, McLaughlin-Levrone said, "It's a progression, shaking the rust off after two years -- I'll take a 52.7. Things to work on and I haven't had much hurdle practice, so there's things to improve."

Her victory and impressive time demonstrate her strong comeback and readiness for upcoming challenges, as she remains a leading figure in the 400m hurdles globally.