McLaughlin-Levrone throws down gauntlet to Kipyegon in race to be greatest

Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone crosses the line ahead of Nickisha Pryce and Britain's Amber Anning in the women's 400m semi-final in Tokyo. Photograph: Yuichi Yamazaki/AFP/Getty Images

First Tokyo witnessed the spectacular. Then came a divine act of Faith.

In the women’s 400m, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone ran one of the fastest times in history, easing down, to raise the question of whether one of the oldest – and most controversial – track and field records might fall this week.