Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, a two-time Olympic champion and world record holder, opted to skip the 400-meter hurdles event, which Kemke Bol did on Friday.
In Tokyo, Dutchwoman Bol came home in 51.54 sec, ahead of Slovakia’s Emma Zapletalova and American Jasmine Jones.
Bol, who finished their incredible sixth Diamond League campaign unbeaten, came to an end to another successful season.
McLaughlin-Levrone, who chose not to compete in Tokyo’s hurdles so she could concentrate on the 400-meter flat race, made the event notable.
The American won the final on Thursday for the second time ever, clocking in at the second-fastest ever.
Bol was considering only claiming her second world title when the crowd was disappointed by the McLaughlin-Levrone-shaped hole in the hurdles final line-up.
She didn’t need to defeat McLaughlin-Levrone, who missed the competition due to injury, for her second, which was held in Budapest two years ago.
Bol and Dalilah Muhammad, both from America, competed in Tokyo with Anna Cockrell and Dalilah Muhammad.
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Cockrell finished second behind McLaughlin-Levrone for the bronze medalist Bol in Paris last year.
At the age of 35, Muhammad, the 2016 Olympic champion, was hoping for a happy ending.
Bol was given the most difficult challenge by Jones, who completed the roundabout just outside the Dutchwoman.
Bol made her legs work the distance, and Jones took silver in 52.03 seconds, breaking her personal best.
Zapletalova broke the 53.01 national record for medals.
According to an AFP report, Argentinian officials on Thursday seized the assets of two of the player’s sisters, his attorney, and three other people, alleging fraudulent management of the player’s brand.
Matias Morla, Maradona’s former attorney, and two of his associates have been charged with fraud in Buenos Aires in a court filing.
Rita and Claudia, the sisters of the Argentine players, and a notary were also charged as compliciters in the case.
READ MORE: The Maradona Death Trial’s Future Is Doubt As A Scandal-Hit Judge Steps Down.
The court ordered the accused’s entire families to forfeit $ 1.34 million (2 billion pesos).
Maradona’s children claimed that when he passed away in 2020 at the age of 60, his brand and its subsidiaries should have been transferred to them.
Maradona continued to have control over his assets until he passed away, according to the court, who claims Morla’s brand management company was merely a front.
According to the ruling, the assets “immediately revert to his heirs” in those circumstances.
In 2021, two of Maradona’s daughters, Dalma and Giannina, first filed charges against Morla and other defendants.
The football player’s three other children have since filed a lawsuit.
Maradona underwent brain surgery, and she passed away.
Two weeks after being exposed to the knife, it was discovered that he had died of heart failure and acute pulmonary embolism (a condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs).
Another case is awaiting retrial after a judge was required to recuse herself for her involvement in a covert documentary in order to determine whether his death was caused by medical negligence. After two months of hearings, that trial was adjourned in May.
The England international’s brilliant brace gave Barcelona a 2-1 victory over Newcastle in the Champions League on Thursday, with Marcus Rashford scoring his first goals for the club.
Following his loan spell with Manchester United in July, Rashford made a memorable return to England with two goals in nine minutes at St James’ Park.
Fans of United, whose team hasn’t played any European football this season and is already struggling with a poor Premier League campaign, will be disappointed watching the 27-year-old’s first Champions League goals since 2021.
In the final stages of their Champions League group stage opener, Anthony Gordon scored one point for Newcastle before it was too late.
On September 18, 2025, during the UEFA Champions League first round football match between Newcastle United FC and FC Barcelona, British forward #14 Marcus Rashford (C) celebrates with teammates at St James’ Park in London. (Photo by Oli SCARFF/AFP)
Rashford and Ruben Amorim had a bad relationship last season, so he was let go by United and sent on loan to Aston Villa during the second half before being sent to Barcelona for the entire season.
Rashford’s career has slowed significantly in recent years because of claims he is no longer focused on his career, and he was once feted as the future of English football after graduating from United’s youth academy as a youngster.
Read more about Haaland’s 50 Champions League goals as Man City cruise over Napoli.
However, Rashford’s energetic performance on Tyneside suggested that he might be about to start the long-awaited renaissance with Barcelona.
It was Rashford’s seventh career goal against the Magpies, a habit he has frequently made of tormenting Newcastle.
Lamine Yamal, who had a groin injury that prevented Barcelona from winning the La Liga game 6-0 against Valencia, was out for the team after a strong start to his campaign.
However, Rashford’s double made sure Hansi Flick’s team didn’t miss Yamal.
Barcelona reached the final since they last won the trophy in 2015 after being defeated by Inter Milan in the semi-finals of last year’s Champions League.
However, the five-time European champions are anticipated to be among the top contenders this year, so this was a strong start to their challenge.
Newcastle’s hopes of a strong start in the Champions League were dashed by the defeat, which had them lose in the 2023-24 group stage.
Rashford Dazzles  ,
On September 18, 2025, Barcelona’s British forward #14 Marcus Rashford controls the ball during the first-round UEFA Champions League game between Newcastle United FC and FC Barcelona at St James’ Park in London. (Photo by Oli SCARFF/AFP)
When Newcastle defeated Barcelona 3-2 in the Champions League group stage in September 1997, Faustino Asprilla scored the winner with one of the best nights in their history.
Asprilla flew in from Colombia to watch Newcastle’s first game against Barcelona since 2003, almost 28 years after that remarkable evening at St James’ Park.
Rashford snuck into the area before striking into the side-netting to give Barcelona’s first glimpse of danger as a foreshadowing his powerful display.
Anthony Elanga’s pace caused Barcelona’s defense for the majority of the first half, when he headed a fierce cross past Harvey Barnes for a deft finish that Joan Garcia palmed away.
On September 18, 2025, in a game between Newcastle United FC and FC Barcelona in the first round of the UEFA Champions League, Brazilian forward #11 Raphinha tries to score in St James’ Park in London. (Photo by Oli SCARFF/AFP)
Fabian Schar and Dan Burn threw themselves into last-ditch blocks to keep the Pole at bay as Robert Lewandowski attempted to lift Barcelona out of their agony.
Joelinton, a Newcastle midfielder, rose to meet a corner and fired a good-looking shot wide from six yards early in the second half.
Barcelona took the lead in the 58th minute despite that flimsy escape, but they were much more effective after the break.
Rashford was quickly eluded as he whipped his powerful header past Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope from 12 yards before Rashford could only get his shot in the area.
In stunning fashion, Rashford doubled Barcelona’s lead in the 67th minute.
Rashford unleashed a fierce strike that left Pope grasping in the air as it flashed into the top corner 25 yards from goal after passing Sandro Tonali.
With a 2-0 victory over Napoli on Thursday, Manchester City capitalized on Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s early red card to defeat Napoli, making Erling Haaland the fastest player to score 50 Champions League goals.
Before Jeremy Doku’s men started their quest for Champions League glory with a winning start, Haaland only made 49 appearances before scoring his half-century in the elite competition in Europe.
On September 18, 2025, Manchester City’s Norwegian striker #9 Erling Haaland (R) and teammate #47 Phil Foden celebrate their goals in the UEFA Champions League league stage football game between Manchester City and Napoli at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northwest England. (Photo by Darren Staples/AFP)
Kevin De Bruyne’s fairytale comeback to the Etihad was halted after only 26 minutes as a result of Di Lorenzo’s dismissal.
De Bruyne returned to the team as a hero just months after leaving as one of City’s greatest players in the club’s history.
Before kick-off, a number of banners emblazoned the Belgian’s name, which paid homage to the man who scored nearly 300 goals or assists in 422 games for Manchester.
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Antonio Conte sacrificed the 34-year-old to add more depth to his defense with the addition of Mathas Olivera, but he showed no signs of sentiment.
Napoli’s ability as an attacking force was also neutered by Di Lorenzo’s dismissal and De Bruyne’s departure.
The visitors had a chance to equalize with only 11 men on the field when City’s new goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma surpassed his best efforts to parry Sam Beukema’s header from a corner.
At 21 minutes, Di Lorenzo made a desperate lunge to stop Haaland from running clear on goal and eliminate the Norwegian.
Referee Felix Zwayer initially believed the defender had touched the ball, but VAR gave him the go-ahead to look at and correct his error.
Napoli held on until the break thanks to some outstanding goalkeeping from Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.
The Serbian, who only played for Manchester United for a short time in his career, made some impressive saves to deny Rodri, Nico O’Riley, and Josko Gvardiol.
Matteo Politano resisted Milinkovic-Savic’s goal-bound effort even when the match’s stoppage came to an end when the match was over.
After the final eleven minutes of the second half, the Napoli rearguard finally broke free.
Haaland scored from the penalty spot for his 12th goal of the season for club and nation, which was a loop over Milinkovic-Savic.
Doku then delivered the decisive blow by smashing a brilliant individual run past three Napoli goalkeepers before coolly slotting his effort under the onrushing goalkeeper.
With two defeats in their first three Premier League games against Tottenham and Brighton, City’s season got off to a mediocre start.
After a consoling 3-0 derby win over Manchester United at the weekend, Guardiola’s men have steadied the ship for the entire two-thirds of a great week.
Guardiola could afford the luxury of resting Rodri and Haaland during the final few minutes, which resembled a training session as City whipped the ball around at will ahead of a trip to title rivals Arsenal on Sunday.
In what is likely to be their most difficult game of the season, the Italian champions were content to limit the damage.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the second-fastest woman to ever claim gold at the world championships on Thursday, ran the second-fastest time ever.
The 26-year-old American broke Jarmila Kratochvilova’s previous championship record of 47.98 seconds set in 1983 on a rain-stricken Tokyo track.
Marileidy Paulino, the reigning champion and Olympic gold medalist, took silver in a time of 47.98 seconds, the third-fastest ever for the Dominican Republic. Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain won bronze in 48. 19 seconds.
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Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (C) of the United States celebrates her victory at the Tokyo World Athletics Championships on September 18, 2025. (Photo by Jewel Samad/AFP)
McLaughin-Levrone, who won two Olympic golds and holds the world record, said, “It was really about trying to stay as relaxed as possible.”
She said, “At the end of the day, this wasn’t my title to hold onto; it was my gain.”
Bobby frequently uses boxing expressions. He said, “You have to go out there and take the belt; it’s not yours, and you have to work for it.”
I’m grateful that we were able to accomplish that, because it really was just about doing the best race possible.
McLaughlin-Levrone looked poised to break Marita Koch’s 40-year-old world record of 47.60sec in the semi-final, which set off a new record for the semi-final.
At the Tokyo World Athletics Championships on September 18, 2025, the athletes from the Dominican Republic, Bahrain, and USA run to the 400-meter final. (Photo by Jewel Samad/AFP)
It was proved by this.
In lane five, McLaughlin-Levrone was drawn inside Britain’s world indoor champion Amber Anning and Cuba’s Roxana Gomez.
The National Stadium’s temperature had dropped significantly from recent, sultry weather and persistent rain.
McLaughlin-Levrone drove out of her blocks, but the wet track was irrelevant.
By the halfway point, she had already passed Anning and made a good home straight turn.
Paulino appeared to be making a threat from the outside lane a few moments ago, but McLaughlin-Levrone used every muscle to veer off the track while keeping her eyes fixed on the clock.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, US, reacts to winning the 400-meter final at the Tokyo World Athletics Championships on September 18, 2025. (Photo by Jewel Samad/AFP)
She broke the championship record, but she suffered a terrible blow, falling far short of Koch’s 1985, one of the oldest records ever set in the books, by capturing it in Canberra.
The US track and field’s golden girl was reportedly shocked and gasped for oxygen.
She sat on a chair and a bottle of water away from the attention of the public for a brief moment while enjoying the break.
But then she returned to the track, to rapturous cheers, to adorn the American flag, and to kiss her husband Andre in the stands.
An event that has lost momentum in recent years has been revived by McLaughlin-Levrone’s presence in the 400-meter race, as opposed to the 400-meter hurdles.
And her victory will help to silence those who criticized her for reversing her decision to focus on the flat race instead of the 400-meter hurdles, an event she had won for six seasons.
After winning the women’s 400-meter final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on September 18, 2025, US runner-up Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone poses with her country’s flag next to a panel reading her championship record. (Photo by Philip FONG/AFP)
She said, “I know there was a lot of doubt about me making this switch, and I just wanted to show myself I can do it.”
I look up online things. I observe what other people say, which is ultimately acceptable. That, in my opinion, is what makes the sport great. They want to see excellent matchups, in my opinion.
They “want to see people be uncomfortable,” and today’s track and field race was no exception.
When Tokyo hosted the Covid-delayed Olympic Games in 2021, McLaughlin-Levrone was one of the stars.
In one of those Games’ standout performances, she won the 400-meter hurdles gold and set a world record of 51.46 seconds.
Jose Mourinho was appointed as Chelsea’s coach on Thursday, with the Portuguese making his first appearance since leaving Porto for Chelsea.
After Benfica defeated them in the Champions League play-offs in August, the 62-year-old was fired by Turkish side Fenerbahce. He also previously worked for Real Madrid and Manchester United.
According to a statement from Benfica, Mourinho has agreed to stay in the club until the end of the 2026/27 season, with the option for either party to terminate it at the end of the current campaign.
After a shock defeat in their Champions League opener against Azerbaijani minnows Qarabag on Tuesday, the two-time European champions fired Bruno Lage.
READ ALSO: Guardiola and Man City’s “Apparently” Not Champions League Contenders.
On September 18, 2025, Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho holds a press conference while making his official announcement as the new coach of Benfica at the Benfica Campus training facility in Seixal, Portugal’s entanglement. (Photo: PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP)
In the Champions League on September 30 and in the Primeira Liga on October 5, Mourinho will soon face reunions with former clubs Chelsea and Porto, respectively.
Mourinho made the transition to become the head coach at Benfica in September 2000 after beginning his coaching career with Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal as assistant.
After only 11 matches, he left and then impressed at Uniao de Leira, joining Porto, who won back-to-back league titles and the Champions League title in 2004.
Before his fortunes sank when he joined Manchester United in 2016, he began a successful career coaching Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Real Madrid.
Tottenham, Roma, and Fenerbahce then had more modest stints.
On September 18, 2025, Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho holds a press conference while making his official announcement as the new coach of Benfica at the Benfica Campus training facility in Seixal, Portugal’s entanglement. (Photo: PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP)