Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone sailed through the heats of the women's 400 metres at the world championships in Tokyo on Sunday.

The 26-year-old American, who is the world record holder at the 400m hurdles but has chosen to run the flat race in Japan, clocked 49.41sec to easily win her heat at the National Stadium.

"It's amazing to be back to Tokyo," said McLaughlin-Levrone. "I was focused on the first half of the race tonight and ran it well. I did it relaxed."

McLaughlin-Levrone was one of the stars when Tokyo hosted the Covid-delayed Olympic Games in 2021.

She set a world record of 51.46sec when winning 400m hurdles gold in one of the stand-out performances of those Games.

She was later part of the US 4x400m relay squad that took gold.

McLaughlin-Levrone, also the 2022 world 400m hurdl

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