Isabella Whittaker turned heads back in March at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Virginia Beach when she clocked a jaw-dropping 49.24 seconds in the women’s 400m.
That time became the fastest indoor time in the world for 2025, eclipsing marks set by Britton Wilson and even the great Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.
Fast forward to the Wanda Diamond League’s BAUHAUS-Galan meet in Stockholm, and Whittaker doubled down. Just three days after a strong outing in Oslo, she returned to the track with another electric performance, claiming victory in the women’s 400m in a new outdoor personal best of 49.78s.
Norway’s Henriette Jaeger (50.07s), Great Britain’s Amber Anning (50.17s, SB), and Chile’s Martina Weil, who shattered her national record in 50.39s, chased her in a fiercely competitive race. Even seasoned contenders like Lieke Klaver, Sada Williams, and Andrea Miklos posted season’s bests, but no one could match Whittaker’s relentless pace.
After the race, Whittaker was candid about her performance.
“I felt a little sluggish today; it was hard to come back after racing in Oslo,” she admitted.
“But I pressed a little harder at the beginning and was happy with my place coming down the homestretch.”
While her physical form has impressed all season, Whittaker credits her success to something less visible but even more potent, her mental game.
“I was racing Grand Slam earlier this year and it really helped. You’re lining up with the best of the best, and it forces you to believe in yourself, to show up on the day and deliver,” she shared.
But beyond competition, it’s personal motivation that truly drives her. Coming from a track-loving family, her sister Juliette represented the U.S. at the Paris 2024 Olympics in the 800m, Whittaker finds joy in the sport.
“My family sees the joy in track and field… it’s not a lot of pressure, like people might think. It’s joy,” she said.
Now, with the Paris Diamond League up next and the U.S. Championships on the horizon, Whittaker is steadily building momentum toward the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September.
This season alone, Whittaker has clocked four sub-50 second races, including her world-leading indoor 49.24s and an outdoor best of 49.58s in Oslo. The competition she faces is world-class, with Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino (48.17s SB) and established stars like Amber Anning, Henriette Jaeger, Lieke Klaver, and others aiming for podium spots in Tokyo.