Aaliyah Butler Breaks Down Her 48.84, Becoming US 400m Champion + Goals for World Ultimate Champs

Aaliyah Butler has stepped into the role at the top American 400m sprinter in 2026. At the end of July, she became US Champion, which came just after she ran a new personal best of 48.84 at the Monaco Diamond League, becoming the 4th fastest 400m woman in American history.Prior to 2026, Aaliyah was a multiple time NCAA Champion while at Georgia, and also won gold medals at the 2024 Olympics and 2025 World Championships as part of team USA's 4x400m relay. She is now heading into the end of the 2026 season as the only American who will compete at the Diamond League final and World Ultimate Championships.In our conversation, we discuss Aaliyah's transition from college to the pro ranks including her approach to training, her time at Georgia and winning an NCAA Team Championship, and her 400m race strategy, including becoming the 4th fastest American women with her 48.84 at the Monaco Diamond League.Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:19 2026 Season so far02:29 Approach to 2026 season05:12 2025 NCAA compared to 2026 pro06:34 Changes to Training08:20 Becoming USA Champion11:10 Still having teammates as a pro13:01 Winning NCAA Team Championships17:42 Coach Caryl Smith-Gilbert22:46 Monaco DL 48.84 Race breakdown26:37 400m Consistency and history30:16 Pressure at big meets32:36 Training with Oakley in the 400m35:54 Gold medal or world record38:20 Poland 400m39:10 Aaliyah off the track