The Olympic champion won in Atlanta with the best time of the year in her first race in two years, having clocked 52.7 seconds, well off her personal best of 50.68. Though she was well ahead of her rivals with just a month and a half to go until Paris 2024. 

"There are things to improve," the Tokyo 2020 gold medallist said. She had not competed in her best event for two years. McLaughlin-Levrone did not feel the absence after so long without competing in an event she dominates to perfection and in which she wants to return to her best.

World-record holder McLaughlin-Levrone had not competed in her main event since August 2022. However, the 24-year-old showed no signs of having missed out. At the Edwin Moses Classic at Morehouse College, she was far superior to the rest of the field.

Her plans and schedule include competing in the United States this season. She will not leave the country as she prepares for the US Olympic trials next month. "I love racing and I love Europe, but I think in a year like this and coming back from last year's injury, I just wanted to be safe," said McLaughlin-Levrone after her win on Friday.

"Travelling can take a lot out of your body. Hopefully I can get more races, but I'm just being cautious until I get to the trials", she continued.

The athlete does not want to take any risks on her way to Paris 2024. Although she was a long way off the world record of 50.68 she set at the 2022 World Championships, the fact remains McLaughlin-Levrone was a second faster than the previous best in 2024.

Her ambition and desire to improve led her to admit that she still has work to do, but she has already realised that she is at a high level. With the Paris Games just around the corner, her final development will be crucial. 

"After two years, it's a development, shaking off the rust. There are things to work on and I haven't had much hurdle training, so there are things to improve," she added.

McLaughlin-Levrone's season's best was over a second faster than the next fastest 400m hurdles time by a woman this year. It eclipsed the 53.72 set by Jamaica's Rushell Clayton in Kingston on 11 May.

Her world record was set at the 2022 World Championships in Oregon. The runner clocked a stratospheric 50.68 seconds, beating Femke Bol of the Netherlands, who took silver, and American Dalilah Muhammad.

McLaughlin-Levrone did it at the age of 22, just a month after breaking her own world record (51.41 seconds) at the US Trials, meaning she qualified for this World Championships by herself.

She took the lead in the first 200 metres, crossing the line in a time that lit up the giant screens at Hayward Field: 50.68. It was a record, and at that moment she became the first woman in history to break 51 seconds in the event.

McLaughlin-Levrone has a spectacular track record, and has set four world records in the space of 13 months, becoming the first woman to break the 52-second barrier in the 400m hurdles (June 2021) and the 51-second barrier (July 2022).

Also, the runner won the silver medal at the 2019 World Championships, and has won gold as part of the women's 4x400m relay team in all three of these competitions, making her the overwhelming favourite for the Paris 2024 trials.